On July 14th, 2026, Voice-A-Versa: Finding My Voice(s) Behind the Mic by Billy West will be published by Abrams Press. The earnest, heartfelt and hilarious autobiography not only details West’s rise to voice actor stardom in Hollywood, but it also tells the story of his challenging childhood and frequently incredible path to finding his voice(s) behind the mic.
In advance of the book’s release next summer, Comics Beat had the opportunity to interview West over Zoom. You can watch that video for yourself, either embedded here at the bottom of the article or over on YouTube.
Voice-A-Versa
West is the voice behind a plethora of legendary characters including Doug Funnie and Roger Klotz on Nickelodeon’s Doug, Stimpy and later Ren on Ren and Stimpy, and Philip J. Fry, Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth and Doctor John Zoidberg on Futurama. He played Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in Space Jam, the Honey Nut Cheerios bee and the Red M&M, plus too many other voice over roles to be included here.
But while West’s career has soared to impressive heights, he didn’t start out as a legendary voice actor. In Voice-A-Versa, readers will discover West’s origin story in 1950s Detroit, Michigan and follow his trajectory as he makes the journey to New York City (where he became a regular guest on The Howard Stern Show) and eventually on to Hollywood.
In a quote on the cover of Voice-A-Versa, Futurama creator Matt Groening describes the autobiography as “Hilarious.” And while Voice-A-Versa is that, it’s also a story that doesn’t flinch away from some of the serious challenges West has faced in his life. You will frequently laugh out loud while reading, but you’ll also cry and be deeply inspired.
Available in July 2024
Voice-A-Versa will be available at your local bookstore and/or public library beginning on July 14th, 2026. In the meantime, please enjoy our interview with West, which you can watch through the embedded video below or over on The Beat’s YouTube channel.
