Original-Cin Q&A: The voice of Goofy speaks about his new Disney+ show It's a Dog's Life With Bill Farmer
Attention dog owners and dog lovers: Disney+ has a new 10-episode documentary series, It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, to warm your heart.
The iconic voice of Goofy for more than 30 years (and the barking voice of Pluto), Disney legend Bill Farmer steps out from behind the microphone to meet his own favourite characters — dogs! Bill crosses the country meeting dogs doing all kinds of incredible jobs that make our lives better.
The artist also known as Goofy learns some new tricks in It’’s a Dog’s Life With Bill Farmer
New episodes of It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer will stream every Friday on Disney+.
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Bill Farmer about the new series and his career as a voice actor.
Disney+ It’s a Dog’s Life with Bill Farmer, premieres on Friday, May 15.
ORIGINAL-CIN: When you were growing up, your family was not in show business. How did you decide this was something you wanted to do as a career?
BILL FARMER: “I grew up in a little town in South Central Kansas, and ever since I was a kid going to the movies I just thought, ‘That would be such a cool thing to do for a living.’
“I was always being discouraged by people telling me that it’s a long-shot going to Hollywood and I would never make a living. So I got a degree in broadcast journalism and did some radio gigs for a number of years. But then i got into stand-up comedy, because i knew that if I didn’t try show business I would kick myself when i was older.
“During my stand-up routine, I discovered that I was pretty good at impressions. So, I took my chance, came out to Hollywood about 35 years ago, had a wonderful audition with Disney to voice Goofy, beat out a thousand people and they have been using me ever since.”
OC: Your new series, It’s A Dog’s Life is so interesting and a must see for all dog lovers. How did it get started, because you are most comfortable behind the microphone and had never pitched a show before in your life.
FARMER: “It came about with a friendship with Steve Duval. He's a cameraman on The Amazing Race and has worked on it 30 seasons. His passport looks like a phone book. We were doing a little show up in Reno, and I put together something just to see if he could pitch it to the local station there.
“It was about an equestrian center that had hounds like the Olde English fox hunts. But there are no foxes, So it's basically there to stretch the legs of the horses and run the dogs.
“Some of the footage of me playing with the dogs and doing voices and impressions just kind of jumped out at us. Then we thought, ‘Why don't we do a show about dogs? We like dogs and you know, I'm a dog in a way, an animated dog. Why don't we find out more about dogs?’
“So we put together a little sizzle reel and Howard Green, who is one of the heads of Disney publicity, was at a party that I was also at. And I said, ‘You know, we ‘ve got this idea and we didn't know whether to go to Animal Planet or PBS with it.’
“He said, ‘Well, why don't you bring it to Disney first because you've been with Disney forever. And the tie-in is great. It's that it's never really been done.’ So they took a look at it, loved the concept, loved the idea and bought the series after our first meeting.”
OC: It became a labour of love.
FARMER: “It's definitely been a labour of love putting all of this together, and I'm totally amazed at how well the show came out. I don't like seeing myself on camera, I'm much more comfortable behind a microphone. But I got over it.” (Laughs).
“Just finding out about the dogs and all the different jobs that they do in their amazing talents made me feel like a big kid. I've always been a very curious person and finding out about things.
“So we really didn't have a script but it was just about asking questions about things I wanted to know. And hopefully it's entertaining enough for kids and their parents to watch together.”
OC: Each episode has two segments about dogs but there are also some added surprises that include your alter egos Goofy and Pluto.
FARMER: “ Every show has a segment called ‘Pluto's Pointers’ where we teach people at home how to handle their dogs and how to treat them right.
“For instance, if you get a new puppy, what to do when you bring it home. How do you make him feel at home? How do you teach them to go potty outside and housebreak them. Basic tips like that.
“We also have a segment called, ‘Goofy's Hometown Heroes.’ We highlight an interesting story that we read about online or heard about in some way, and focus on dogs who are heroes.
“There's this dog that got lost in the woods for 30 days and he made it back. There's a dog that was the best man at his owner’s wedding. There's a dog that plays the piano, just little stories that are fun and heartwarming at the same time. “
OC: I'm a little jealous because this sounds to me like a dream job.
FARMER: “It really is. I've always said to myself if you can entertain yourself, you'll entertain others and hopefully we've done that.”
OC: Looking back on your career, you did a few on camera roles before you started making a living doing voice work. Of Course getting to voice Goofy was a dream come true but were you at all nervous when you were chosen to take over the voice and how did you perfect it?
FARMER: “Goofy was my favorite Disney character growing up. I've always had a knack for doing impressions and maybe since he was my favorite I was able to master him pretty fast.
“I also auditioned for Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, but they weren’t perfect impressions. I also think that Goofy also fits my personality. So I think it was typecasting as well. “ (Laughs).
OC: I was going to ask you if you find yourself a little goofy?
FARMER: “Oh, yeah. I blame Goofy on all of the dumb things that I do around the house.”
OC: Your wife (Jennifer Farmer) works with you on the show (as executive producer). Correct?
FARMER: :Yes, she was a script supervisor for 20 years, and she's directed documentaries as well. So what a perfect combination to work with someone that you live with and have been married to for 30 years.
“She's been instrumental in putting this show together and makes sure that I look my best on camera. I can tell you that you don't get angry with your wife when she tells you to fix your hair or do another take.”
OC: I think that it's a perfect time to watch this show. Because of the pandemic, people are at home looking for things to watch with their families. On a serious note, a lot of people, because they're dealing with anxiety and stress, are thinking about getting a dog during this time period. What's your advice to people who are thinking about getting a dog. It is a huge commitment.
FARMER: “It's probably the only time you get to pick a family member. But think of them as a family member. Every dog has a different personality and we tried to stress that in the show.
“They're all individuals and some of them like to play. Other ones are more laid-back. They have different temperaments. It's important that if you are going to get a dog, it should match your lifestyle.
“You don’t want a border collie that needs to run for five hours a day if you sit and watch TV all day. There are much better dogs that would fit into your family. Make sure that the dog you choose is right and get to know them as individuals and I think it'll be a better match.”
OC: You are a doggy dad. And I am sure it brings you much comfort.
FARMER: “Absolutely. It keesp me sane during this Coronavirus. I go out walking at night and when the neighborhood is kind of quiet. And Boo, my black lab/pit bull just squeals with joy when I call her at night to take a nice long walk. She knows when i go to that closet to get my coat she can hardly contain herself. It’s like she’s won the lotto every night!”
OC: In April, you celebrated the 25th Anniversary of A Goofy Movie. Why do you think that film is so beloved?
FARMER: “I’ve probably done close to 4,000 projects for Disney, but A Goofy Movie was unlike any other project that I’ve worked on over the last 33 years.
“Whether it’s fans at Conventions or just people writing to me, nothing I’ve ever done has equaled A Goofy Movie in terms of the effect it’s had on audiences.
“I hear people say, ‘Yeah, I couldn’t talk to my dad very well, we weren’t that close. But A Goofy Movie kind of brought us together and we would play it every year, or put on the soundtrack in the car.’ That one movie has kind of identified with people more than anything else I’ve ever done.”