Who voiced Yax the yak in Zootopia?

Tommy Chong voiced Yax the yak in Zootopia.

Yax is the relaxed owner of Mystic Springs Oasis, a naturist club in Sahara Square. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde visit him while investigating the disappearance of Emmitt Otterton. Although Yax seems distracted and speaks in a stereotypically mellow, hippie-like style, he remembers useful details about Otterton’s visit.

Chong was already famous as one half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong, whose counterculture humor made his laid-back performance especially recognizable. His casting is an easy detail to miss because Zootopia has a large ensemble of celebrity voices, including Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, and J.K. Simmons.

A common mix-up is confusing Yax with another animal character or assuming Cheech Marin supplied the voice. Marin was Chong’s longtime comedy partner, but the English-language Yax performance belongs to Tommy Chong. Chong also reprised the role in later Zootopia-related material.