Originally trained in theater and well-versed
in the comedy stylings of the past, Dana Snyder is not your typical voice actor.
Known to
millions around the world as the voice of the wise-cracking milk shake Master Shake on Cartoon Networks’ hit show, “Aqua
Teen Hunger Force,” Snyder is currently one of the most talented voice actors in the business.
Despite his current success however, the way Snyder
landed the role of Master Shake had as much to do with luck as it did talent.
“I went to college with a girl that went
to high school with Dave Willis (Co-creator of Aqua Teen with Matt Maiellaro),”said Snyder, via telephone in Los Angeles.
“He called her up, asking if she knew anyone in New York that had a weird
voice for the show they were doing and that’s it. She gave them my name; then I auditioned and the rest is history.”
While Dave Willis is noted for being the voice
of both Carl and Meatwad on Aqua Teen, providing a big part of the show’s humor, many would say that its Snyder’s
character, Master Shake, which provides the show with the backbone that has led to its success.
Snyder’s comedic influences have also played
a huge role in the way Master Shake is portrayed as well.
“I’m into old showbiz stuff like Don
Rickles, which I think reflects in Master Shake, of course. I always inject little secret nods to my old comedic heroes,”
said Snyder. “Frequently, people will think, ‘Oh, he made that up,’ and I’ll say, ‘Well, I kind
of stole it from that guy or whatever.’”
Snyder also credits his parents for helping to
shape his sense of humor, giving him freedom to express himself and exposing him to a variety of different sources of entertainment
when he was young.
“My parents were always very supportive
of what I was doing; that always helps,” said Snyder. “They never said, ‘I don’t want you to do this,’
or ‘You can’t do that,’ unless I wanted to set the couch on fire or something.
“When I was growing up, my dad
was always watching old W.C. Fields movies and stuff, so I always sort of watched them, too, and I think a lot of my humor
comes out of that,” said Snyder. “That’s the kind of thing I wouldn’t normally be exposed to if I
was watching the things my friends were telling me to watch.”
Regardless of what anyone says concerning the
reasons for the success of Aqua Teen, Snyder believes that it is the unity among everyone involved in the show that has led
to its monumental success.
“I love being a part of Aqua Teen,”
said Snyder. “I think my favorite part is just being so surprised how popular it’s been. I never thought it would.
When we did it the first time, it was like, well, this is really going to be nothing. We were just making this little cartoon
for no money and now it’s so enjoyable and amazing to see how into it people are.”
