Even though he’s been living in Los Angeles for more than 45 years, Michigan voiceover actor Rob Paulsen has not forgotten his Michigan roots.
“I’m the embodiment of ‘Pure Michigan,’” said Paulsen, who was born in Detroit, raised in Livonia, and is a Grand Blanc High School alumnus. “Michigan has always been a part of me.”
Paulsen is best known for voicing Yakko on “Animaniacs,” Pinky on “Pinky and the Brain,” Snow Job on “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” and Raphael on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
“Characters are beloved for different reasons, and I’ve had the good fortune to be involved with characters that are popular just by virtue of people all over the world,” he said. “People in just about any language and know what a Ninja Turtle is. ‘Pinky’ and ‘Animaniacs’ are beloved for their content, music, acerbic wit, subversive humor and the fact they did not condescend to the audience. They’ve not only stood the test of time, they’ve transcended it. It’s not delivered by a plethora of toys and video games; it’s art for the sake of the art; I’m really proud of that.”
Paulsen is one of many celebrities, pop culture icons, pro wrestlers and comic book professionals who will be in attendance at Astronomicon 9 during the weekend of April 10-12 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest.
Source Point Press publisher and prolific writer Dirk Manning has been a guest at Astronomicon from the beginning.
“Year after year, Astronomicon has continued to bring in a stronger and stronger mix of creators and celebrities from pop culture, music, horror, and professional wrestling and this is why this show continues to garner more well-earned attention from fans and industry professional alike. It’s also why Astronomicon has become one of the ‘must-attend’ shows in Michigan every year by so many fans of both the comic con and horror con experience,” said Manning.
Besides Paulsen and Manning, the guests also include Billy Zane (“Titanic,” “The Phantom”), actor/filmmaker Kevin Smith (“Chasing Amy,” “Clerks”), Bobcat Goldthwait (“Police Academy”), Danny Trejo (“The Devil’s Rejects,” “Con Air”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Nick Castle (the original Michael Myers from 1978’s “Halloween”), Roger L. Jackson, (the voice of Ghostface in the “Scream” franchise), Jason Mewes (“Dogma”), David Arquette (“Scream,” “Never Been Kissed”), comedy legends Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin of “Cheech & Chong” fame, “The Simpsons” artist Bill Morrison, Detroit native/actor/comedian Dave Coulier (“Full House”), et al.
Dave Coulier at Astronomicon 9
An alumnus of Notre Dame High School in Harper Woods, Coulier has successfully battled two different cancers (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and tongue cancer) in less than two years. As of February, he is in remission from both, per an announcement he made on Good Morning America. He is best known as Joey Gladstone, alias Uncle Joey, on ABC’s 1987-95 family sitcom “Full House.” He reprised this role on Netflix’s “Fuller House,” which ran from 2016-20.
In “Full House,” widower Danny Tanner (the late Bob Saget) recruits BFF Joey, and brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos), to help him raise his three young daughters – D.J. (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Michelle (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) – in San Francisco.
When Coulier auditioned for the “Full House” pilot, it was just another job to him.
“When you look at television, the chance of a pilot getting picked up is so small. The chance of a show lasting for more than a season is very small. The chances of the show becoming a hit are even smaller. The chances of a show becoming a television icon is even smaller yet. I knew what the odds were. … None of us had any idea that we’d become a part of television history,” explained Coulier.
According to Coulier, “Full House” is comfort food to many.
“It’s a safe haven for people,” said Coulier. “It projects them back to a simpler time, where people hugged each other and said, ‘I love you.’ You solved problems together as a family. I think that gives people great comfort, which is why the show originally became a big hit. And then it became an iconic show through syndication throughout the world.”
When “Fuller House” – the sequel/reboot debuted in 2016 – Coulier was touched by the fan base support.
“(It was) very surreal to go back to the same stage 30 years later and do this show,” said Coulier. “That’s the thing about the entire cast: We’ve never stopped seeing each other. We became a family off-camera as well.”
Go to Astronomicon 9
Astronomicon 9 will be at the Ann Arbor Mariott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, located at 1275 S. Huron St. in Ypsilanti, on the following days and times:
- Friday, April 10, from 5-10 p.m.
- Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets range from $15-$320. Children ages 5 and under are free. For questions or more information, contact [email protected].
