Who provides the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me films?

Steve Carell provides the voice of Gru in the Despicable Me films.

Carell voices Felonious Gru, the series’ central character: a supervillain whose life changes after he adopts Margo, Edith, and Agnes. Gru begins as a calculating criminal planning spectacular thefts, including an attempt to steal the Moon, but gradually becomes a protective and affectionate father. Carell’s performance combines a deep, unusual accent with Gru’s dry, impatient comic delivery.

The voice was not simply an imitation of a real-world nationality. During development, Carell experimented with several possibilities, testing voices with his children before settling on the version used in the films. The character’s sound has been described as a blend of Eastern European, French, and other influences rather than a precise accent.

Carell also voices Gru’s twin brother Dru in Despicable Me 3 and plays a younger version of Gru in Minions: The Rise of Gru. The wrong options are easy to confuse with the cast: Russell Brand voices Dr. Nefario, Jason Segel voices Vector, and Will Arnett voices Mr. Perkins in the first film.