The Pixar film Cars introduced Mater, Lightning McQueen’s tow-truck friend.
Mater is a rusty tow truck who lives in Radiator Springs. He becomes one of Lightning’s first genuine friends after the race car is forced to stay in town and repair the road he damaged.
Mater is cheerful, loyal, and famous for telling exaggerated stories about his past. His friendship with Lightning helps shift the film away from a simple sports story and toward a tale about community, humility, and personal change.
The character’s voice was performed by comedian Larry the Cable Guy, whose distinctive delivery helped make Mater one of Pixar’s best-known supporting characters. Mater returns in Cars 2 and Cars 3, and he also appears in the short-form series Mater’s Tall Tales.