Doc Hudson is voiced in English by Paul Newman in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc is the town doctor and judge of Radiator Springs, but his past is far more dramatic: he was once the famous Fabulous Hudson Hornet, a champion stock-car racer. After a serious crash ended his racing career, he became frustrated when the racing world forgot him. His guarded attitude toward Lightning McQueen reflects that history.
Paul Newman was an acclaimed actor and a real-life racing enthusiast. His involvement gave Doc’s voice a calm, authoritative quality, while the character’s racing history connected the film to NASCAR-era legends and the Hudson Hornet automobile. Cars was Newman’s final acting performance in a feature film released during his lifetime.
Doc’s story is not the same as The King’s. The King, voiced by Richard Petty, is an active veteran racer in the first film. Doc is a retired champion who becomes Lightning’s mentor.