unilad homepage
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • World News
    • Crime
    • Health
    • Money
    • Sport
    • Travel
  • Film and TV
    • Netflix
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Actor who played 'Goofy' for 30 years shocks fans by revealing the character isn't a dog

Home> Film & TV

Updated 11:36 24 Jul 2024 GMT+1Published 15:43 23 Jul 2024 GMT+1

Actor who played 'Goofy' for 30 years shocks fans by revealing the character isn't a dog

Turns out we've been barking up the wrong tree when it comes to Mickey Mouse's pal Goofy

Joe Yates

Joe Yates

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: The Walt Disney Company/Getty Images/Disney

Topics: Disney, Animals, Dogs, Film and TV, Celebrity

Joe Yates
Joe Yates

Joe is a journalist for UNILAD, who particularly enjoys writing about crime. He has worked in journalism for five years, and has covered everything from murder trials to celeb news.

X

@JMYjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

There is no question that Mickey Mouse is a mouse because of his name, but has there ever been confirmation of what Goofy is?

Well, surely not because there's been no need has there? Mickey Mouse's beloved pal is a dog, right?

Well, according to his voice actor Bill Farmer, we've all got it wrong as the beloved cartoon isn't a pooch after all.

Advert

No, the klutzy character may have similarities to a dog, and was in fact originally named Dippy Dawg by Disney artists when he first appeared in the episode titled Mickey's Revue, which was released in 1932.

Dippy Dawg made a total of six appearances, but by his seventh in 1934 he gained a new name 'Goofy', and became a regular in the show.

But other than him originally being called a dawg, no one has ever highlighted what animal he is - and if you compare him to Mickey's dog Pluto, he's not very dog like.

Goofy walks on two feet and can talk, while Pluto just barks and gets about on all fours.

Bill Farmer has been the official voice of Goofy since 1987. (The Walt Disney Company/Getty Images/Disney)
Bill Farmer has been the official voice of Goofy since 1987. (The Walt Disney Company/Getty Images/Disney)

Now, Farmer - who has been the official voice of Goofy since taking up the role way back in 1987 - has weighed into the age-old debate of what kind of animal his character is.

He revealed the answer to Yahoo! News and with absolute authority claimed that for decades people have been barking up the wrong tree.

Farmer said: "He is not a dog.

"Pluto is a dog, but Goofy seems to be in the canine family in the same way that a wolf is not a dog, but they also are in the canine family. I think Canis Goofus is the technical Latin term for what Goofy is. He’s just Goofy.

Bill Farmer revealed Goofy isn't a dog. (Disney)
Bill Farmer revealed Goofy isn't a dog. (Disney)

Well there you have it, Goofy's voice actor has spoken... but with Goofy originally being named Dippy Dawg I'm sure there will be some people, including myself, who have their suspicions that he may still just be a clumsy dog.

One thing I will add was a Twitter user took to the social media platform to ask their followers: "The people have been debating for years & years… Is goofy a dog or a cow?"

Due to the fact that in the iconic TV show, Goofy has a romantic interest with Clarabelle Cow.

So are you swayed, do you still think he's a dog or is Goofy just, like Farmer says, Goofy?

Choose your content:

17 hours ago
3 days ago
4 days ago
5 days ago
  • Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
    17 hours ago

    Netflix loses court battle over raising prices the past 7 years and ordered to pay refunds

    An Italian court found that the price increases did not comply with Italian law

    Film & TV
  • Chad Salvador/Variety via Getty Images
    3 days ago

    Sharon Stone reveals who she thinks is 'the best kisser in the business'

    Sharon Stone has co-starred in dozens of movies next to some of Hollywood's biggest names

    Film & TV
  • Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images
    4 days ago

    Jennifer Coolidge recalled living with American Pie co-star after their intimate scene

    Coolidge's role as Stifler's mom turned her into a noughties icon

    Film & TV
  • River Callaway/Variety via Getty Images
    5 days ago

    Netflix's Lamar Odom documentary leaves viewers thinking NBA star had died

    One detail about the new documentary has confused viewers

    Film & TV
  • Actor who played 'Goofy' for 30 years shocks fans by revealing the character isn't actually a dog
  • Matilda actor who got spun by pigtails has completely different career almost 30 years on
  • Reality TV star leaves people in shock after seeing her ‘disgusting’ act with dog
  • Hannah Montana star Emily Osment reveals why she's not part of the show's 20th anniversary special