Man Who Voiced Winnie the Pooh Uses Character to Connect with Grandson (Exclusive)

Jim Cummings has spent decades bringing some of the most beloved characters in entertainment to life, with voices that are instantly recognizable across generations. 

From Winnie the Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Hondo Ohnaka, and more than 1,500 roles in film, TV, gaming, and theme parks, his vocal range is as vast as it is iconic. 

“Being the official voice of Winnie the Pooh for all these years is a beautiful thing, because he’s not just a cartoon character, he’s almost like a state of mind,” Cummings tells PEOPLE exclusively. 

The 72-year-old often sees the emotional impact of his work firsthand at conventions and Comic Cons, where fans of all ages approach him with requests to hear the voices from their childhood. 

“It’s usually somebody’s mom and she just can’t talk because it’s so evocative,” he reveals. “It brings you back to your childhood.” 

Now, as a grandfather, Cummings finds new joy in his craft through the reactions of his 8-month-old grandson, Jax. The voices he once created for audiences everywhere are now part of quiet, personal moments at home.

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The longtime voice actor finds himself revisiting familiar characters when reading or speaking to his grandson.

Although he admits that Jax doesn’t yet recognize the iconic voices, he can tell that the infant is soaking it all in. 

“He just thinks that it’s Grandpa being sweet and nice and telling him a nice story,” Cummings says. 

But what feels like an ordinary moment between grandparent and grandchild has resonated far beyond his home, thanks to a viral video capturing an interaction between Cummings and Jax this past Father’s Day.

“Who wouldn’t want Winnie the Pooh to sit and read you a bedtime story?” he laughs. 

Cummings tells PEOPLE he often reflects on the timeless appeal of Winnie the Pooh and the way it continues to connect across generations. 

“I always say that, there’s a new Pooh fan, a new generation of Winnie the Pooh fans every three years, and they just keep on coming, and it’s because it brings everybody back to their childhood,” he explains. “And no matter who you are, that was a good time.” 

When asked about how he keeps his characters distinctive and unique, Cummings reveals that it’s a talent he’s always had and an art he’s perfected. 

“Gosh — they live in different parts of my head, I guess, or my heart,” he says. “I always joke and say that it’s a thing that used to get me kicked out of class, so it worked out.”

A black-and-white episode of The Jack Benny Program sparked the idea of becoming a voice actor long before Cummings ever stepped behind a microphone. 

At just 5 years old, he was captivated by Mel Blanc – the voice behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the original Taz, and countless others. 

“And my dad said, ‘Well, you see this guy? He’s the guy that does all those crazy voices for your cartoon characters that you get up and watch on Saturday morning,’” Cummings recalls. “And so I thought, well, then I’ll be him. You know? Because he doesn’t have to stand in the corner for being strange or weird… so I got to be him.” 

That moment of recognition became the foundation for a career that would leave an imprint on generations to come. 

As a kid, Cummings was never interested in playing the obvious roles. While other children wanted to be the hero or the lead, he gravitated toward the strange and unexpected. 

“You know, I was always in plays as a kid. I’d be 10 years old, but I wanted to be the troll who lived under the bridge. I didn’t want to be the little kid,” he reflects. “I wanted to be the old man who only spoke who knows what language.” 

That early instinct to explore characters far beyond himself became a guiding principle in his career. 

“I didn’t want to be what I was. I always wanted to stretch, I always wanted to go outside of my own comfort zone,” he says. “And I think that’s good advice for any actor.”

These days, Cummings is channeling his decades of experience into a new passion project: Toon’d In with Jim Cummings, a podcast that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of voice acting and the stories behind beloved characters. 

“We just decided… I’ve got all these friends, and I’ve done a number of podcasts for them… so I thought, you know, I’ve got this story,” he says. 

But it’s more than just reminiscing – it’s about preserving his career and the characters he loves dearly. 

“It’s not just a job, it’s not just a gig. It’s an honor, because I’m sort of the torchbearer for this generation and that generation, and I’m on my third generation now,” he tells PEOPLE. 

“I’ve got the 75-year-old grandparents, the 40-year-old parents, and the 4-year-old grandkids. And they’re all three standing in front of me, at once, and it’s beautiful.”