In Up, what is the name of the explorer who Carl idolizes?

In Up, Charles Muntz is the explorer whom Carl Fredricksen idolizes. As a child, Carl watches newsreels about Muntz, a celebrated adventurer who claims to have discovered a giant bird in South America.

Muntz’s reputation collapses when scientists dismiss the bird skeleton he brings home as a hoax. Determined to prove them wrong, he returns to Paradise Falls and vows not to come back until he captures a living specimen. Carl and Ellie both admire him, and their shared fascination with Muntz helps establish the adventurous spirit that shapes their lives.

When Carl finally meets his childhood hero decades later, the encounter is not what he expects. Muntz has become obsessed with finding the bird, Kevin, and has spent years hunting anyone who might claim the discovery. His fixation has made him dangerous, creating a sharp contrast with Carl’s more humane understanding of adventure. Dug, Russell, and Kevin are important companions in the story, but none is the explorer Carl idolizes. Christopher Plummer voiced Charles Muntz.