Paul Newman’s archival voice recordings are used for Doc Hudson in Pixar’s Cars 3.
Doc Hudson died before the events of Cars 3, but the character remains central to Lightning McQueen’s memories and racing identity. The filmmakers incorporated previously recorded material from Paul Newman, who had voiced Doc in the original Cars. These recordings allow Doc to speak in flashbacks and archival-style moments without recasting the character’s voice.
Newman died in 2008, two years after Cars was released and several years before Cars 3. His racing background made the role especially fitting: Newman was a serious sports-car racer and co-drove the winning team in the 1979 24 Hours of Daytona.
Doc Hudson is inspired visually by the Hudson Hornet, a real American car associated with early stock-car racing. Cars 3 uses Doc’s history to motivate Lightning’s training and his eventual decision to help Cruz Ramirez.