LOS ANGELES (AP) — Voice actor and activist JP Karliak is bringing double the mischief to the big screen this summer — and pushing for deeper change behind the scenes.
Karliak stars in the upcoming Smurfs reboot from Paramount, voicing not one but two chaotic characters: the classic villain Gargamel and his hilariously unhinged brother, Razamel. The animated film, out in July, features a star-studded cast including Rihanna, Nick Offerman, and Kurt Russell.
“It was a blast to play off both characters — to be my own worst enemy, basically,” Karliak said with a laugh.
But beyond the booth, Karliak is focused on making voiceover more inclusive. As the founder of Queer Vox, a nonprofit training academy for LGBTQIA+ voice actors, Karliak is working to expand opportunities for queer, trans, non-binary, and BIPOC performers in an industry still catching up on representation.
“In animation, your voice should matter more than your identity — but your identity should never be a barrier,” Karliak said. “We’re here to open doors for people who’ve too often been left out.”
With Smurfs set to bring laughs to audiences of all ages, Karliak is proving that creating characters and creating change can — and should — go hand in hand.