James Urbaniak on Voice Acting, Venture Bros, and Following the Energy

In this captivating episode of Celebrity Interviews Live from The Grotto, host Greg Hanna sits down with the endlessly talented and versatile actor James Urbaniak, known for his unforgettable performances in The Venture Bros., Oppenheimer, American Splendor, The Office, and countless cult classics. With his signature wit and thoughtful storytelling, James dives deep into his creative journey — from experimental theater in New York City to voicing one of the most iconic animated antiheroes of our time. [00:00] – Greg Hanna and James Urbaniak kick things off with laughs, clearing up misconceptions about James' background in stand-up comedy. [00:01:30] – James reveals his true roots in New York theater and how his love of performance evolved from cassette tape skits as a kid to complex characters on screen and in podcasts. [00:03:00] – Assembling a “Genius Squad” of his most brilliant characters, from cult-favorite poet Simon Grim (Henry Fool) to his nefarious TV producer from Review. [00:05:00] – Theater vs. Film: James reflects on the differences in process, energy, and how returning to the stage reignited his acting muscles. [00:07:00] – Animated throwbacks and voice acting dreams: why James would love to join Johnny Quest or be a villain from a '70s cartoon voiced by someone inexplicably 55. [00:09:00] – The roles fans recognize him most for — from The Venture Bros. to Oppenheimer, Better Call Saul, The Fabelmans, and The Office (as Dwight’s buddy Rolph!). [00:11:00] – Reflections on working in offices before his career took off — and how those experiences fed right into roles like Office Space-esque weirdos. [00:13:00] – Greg and James dive deep into The Venture Bros. legacy, the cult following, and their favorite lines from the show. [00:15:00] – Behind the scenes of Oppenheimer: appearing alongside Cillian Murphy and Einstein in Christopher Nolan’s historical masterpiece. [00:16:00] – Transforming into Heinrich Himmler for the film Condor’s Nest, and how James learned conversational German from scratch in two months. [00:18:00] – James’ new scripted podcast In Media Res: A Hollywood satire with sharp writing, original music, and his role as an NPR-style DJ introducing fictional James Bond-esque theme songs. [00:21:00] – James delivers his smooth NPR voice and reminisces about jazz DJs and the classic radio cadence that inspired his character. [00:23:00] – Greg and James geek out over their shared love of radio, public broadcasting, Larry King, Howard Stern, Mike & Mike, and the early days of WRCT college radio. [00:27:00] – Final thoughts: James shares the most important life lesson he’s learned—“Follow your energy”—and how that philosophy has guided his eclectic, fulfilling career. James Urbaniak is a seasoned actor whose work spans film, television, theater, voice acting, and podcasting. He is best known as the voice of Dr. Thaddeus Venture in The Venture Bros., Simon Grim in Henry Fool, and appearances in Oppenheimer, The Office, Better Call Saul, American Splendor, and Difficult People. He continues to push creative boundaries with scripted audio projects like In Media Res, available on all major podcast platforms. 🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at goodstoryguild.co 🎙️ Produced by: Good Story Guild Twitter/X: @JamesUrbaniak Website: JamesUrbaniak.com 🔑 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🎧 More About the Guest:📍 Where to Listen to "In Media Res":📲 Connect with James Urbaniak: