Which actor voiced Arthur in the first three seasons?

Michael Yarmush voiced Arthur during the series’ first three seasons. He was the original English voice of Arthur Read when the PBS animated series premiered in 1996.

Yarmush actually continued in the role through Season 5, which ran in 2000. He left the regular part because his voice changed during puberty, a recurring production issue for a children’s show whose main characters remain elementary-school age. Justin Bradley replaced him in Season 6, followed by Mark Rendall for Seasons 7 and 8.

The casting history is therefore a frequent source of confusion. Michael Yarmush is unquestionably the answer for the first three seasons, but references that ask for the first voice actor overall may describe him as Arthur’s voice for the first five seasons. Those statements are compatible: the first three seasons are part of his larger five-season tenure.

Yarmush later returned to the franchise as Slink, a member of the Tough Customers, and voiced the adult Arthur in the 2022 finale “All Grown Up.”