Pat Carroll voices Ursula in the original English version of Disney’s 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid.
Carroll gave Ursula a theatrical, comic, and menacing personality, making the sea witch one of Disney animation’s most memorable villains. Her performance includes both spoken dialogue and singing, particularly in the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” in which Ursula persuades Ariel to sign a dangerous contract.
Ursula’s design was inspired in part by the drag performer Divine, but Divine did not provide the character’s voice. That distinction is a common source of confusion: Divine influenced the visual concept, while Pat Carroll performed the original English voice.
Carroll continued to be closely associated with Ursula after the film’s release, voicing the character in related Disney projects. Later adaptations cast different performers, including Melissa McCarthy in the 2023 live-action film.