In Pixar's Cars, which character is the voice of Mater?

The story behind the answer

Larry the Cable Guy provides the voice of Mater in Pixar's Cars.

Mater is a rusty tow truck who lives in Radiator Springs and becomes Lightning McQueen's closest friend. His full name is Tow Mater, a pun on the phrase “tow mater,” and his comic personality is built around loyalty, storytelling, and a relaxed rural manner. Larry the Cable Guy, the stage name of comedian Daniel Lawrence Whitney, supplied Mater's distinctive voice.

The casting helped make Mater one of the franchise's most recognizable characters. He returned in Cars 2 and Cars 3, and also headlined the short-form series Mater's Tall Tales. The character's design was inspired by old tow trucks, including a 1951 International Harvester boom truck and a 1957 Chevrolet boom truck.

John Ratzenberger also appears in the film, but he voices Mack, Lightning's transport truck. Owen Wilson voices Lightning McQueen, while George Carlin voices Fillmore.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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