Who provides the voice of young Simba?

Jonathan Taylor Thomas provides the speaking voice of young Simba in the 1994 animated film The Lion King. His performance covers Simba’s childhood dialogue before the character grows into adulthood and is voiced by Matthew Broderick.

Thomas was a popular child actor at the time, especially known for playing Randy Taylor on the television sitcom Home Improvement. Disney cast him because he could convey Simba’s energetic, curious and mischievous personality without artificially changing his voice. He recorded his lines in sessions spread across roughly a year and a half.

The film used multiple performers for Simba. Jason Weaver supplied the cub’s singing voice for the original songs, while Joseph Williams sang for adult Simba. That division is why Jonathan Taylor Thomas is the correct answer for the young character’s speaking voice, but not every vocal performance associated with him.

Nathan Lane voices Timon, James Earl Jones voices Mufasa and Matthew Broderick voices adult Simba—common sources of confusion in this question.