Who’s Still Alive From the Original ‘Toy Story’ Cast?
When Toy Story opened in theaters on November 22, 1995, it became one of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved and popular animated films. It was the first entirely computer-animated feature film and the first feature released by Pixar Animation Studios.
The movie went on to earn three Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Screenplay, a first for an animated film. In 2005, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, and in 2025, it returned to theaters for its 30th anniversary. All these years later, the franchise is still going strong, with Toy Story 5 set for June 19, 2026.
Tom Hanks (69)
Woody
Everett Collection
Tom Hanks was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars when he voiced Woody, Andy’s pull-string cowboy doll. By the time Toy Story opened in 1995, Hanks had won back-to-back Academy Awards for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, and he had also starred that same year in Apollo 13. He returned for the later Toy Story films, including Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Toy Story 4, and Toy Story 5. Hanks has also continued working steadily outside the franchise, with recent credits including Elvis, A Man Called Otto, Asteroid City, Here, and The Phoenician Scheme. He turns 70 on July 9, 2026.
Tim Allen (73)
Buzz Lightyear
Everett Collection
Tim Allen voiced Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger action figure who arrives in Andy’s room convinced he is on a real mission. At the time, Allen was already one of television’s biggest stars as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor on Home Improvement, which ran from 1991 to 1999. Buzz became one of Allen’s signature roles, along with Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause franchise. He returned as Buzz in Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4 and is listed as returning for Toy Story 5. Allen also starred for nine seasons on Last Man Standing, returned to Santa mode for the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses, and now stars on the ABC sitcom Shifting Gears. Michigan viewers may also recognize his voice from the “Pure Michigan” tourism commercials.
Wallace Shawn (82)
Rex
Everett Collection
Wallace Shawn voiced Rex, the nervous green dinosaur who desperately wanted to be more frightening than he was. By the time Toy Story came out, Shawn was already recognizable from My Dinner With Andre, The Princess Bride and Clueless, which was also released in 1995. He has continued to act steadily in films, television and voice work, with later credits including Gossip Girl, Young Sheldon, Evil and Toy Story projects. Shawn is also a playwright and essayist whose stage work includes Aunt Dan and Lemon and The Designated Mourner.
John Ratzenberger (79)
Hamm
Everett Collection
John Ratzenberger voiced Hamm, Andy’s sarcastic piggy bank. Before Toy Story, Ratzenberger was already famous as mail carrier Cliff Clavin on Cheers, a role he played for the show’s entire 11-season run and later reprised on The Tortellis, Wings, and Frasier. Toy Story also began Ratzenberger’s long association with Pixar. He went on to voice characters in many of the studio’s films, including P.T. Flea in A Bug’s Life, the Yeti in Monsters, Inc., the Underminer in The Incredibles, Mack in Cars, and Fritz in Inside Out.
Consider Pixar’s “lucky charm” and appearing in almost all of their films, Hamm remains one of his best-known voice roles, and he is listed as returning to the part in Toy Story 5.
Annie Potts (73)
Bo Peep
Everett Collection
Annie Potts voiced Bo Peep, the porcelain shepherdess who was one of Woody’s closest friends. Potts was already familiar to many viewers from Ghostbusters, Pretty in Pink, and Designing Women, where she played Mary Jo Shively from 1986 to 1993. She later returned as Bo Peep in Toy Story 2 and had a much larger role in Toy Story 4. Potts has also stayed busy on television, playing Meemaw on Young Sheldon and continuing the role on Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. She also reprised the role of Janine Melnitz in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
John Morris
Andy Davis
Everett Collection
John Morris was a child actor when he voiced Andy Davis, the boy whose toys come to life whenever he leaves the room. During his audition, Morris reportedly brought several X-Men action figures and made voices for them, which helped him land the role. Morris returned as Andy in Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, and Toy Story 4, making him one of the few performers who grew up with the franchise in real time. He also voiced Pepper Roni in the 1997 video game Lego Island. He hasn’t really acted in recent years but stays connected to the Toy Story franchise.
Laurie Metcalf (71)
Andy’s Mom
Everett Collection
Laurie Metcalf voiced Andy’s mom, the busy parent whose decision to move houses helps set the first Toy Story in motion. Metcalf returned as Andy’s mom in the later Toy Story films. She was already well known for playing Jackie Harris on Roseanne, a role that won her three Primetime Emmy Awards in the 1990s. She later returned to the character on The Conners, earned an Oscar nomination for Lady Bird, and won another Emmy for Hacks. Metcalf has also had a major stage career, including multiple Tony Award wins.
Erik von Detten (43)
Sid Phillips
Warner Bros./Everett Collection
Erik von Detten voiced Sid Phillips, Andy’s toy-destroying next-door neighbor. Von Detten was a child actor when Toy Story came out, and many viewers later knew him from Disney Channel favorites such as Brink! and So Weird. He also played Josh Bryant in The Princess Diaries and voiced Erwin Lawson on Recess. Von Detten briefly returned as Sid in Toy Story 3, where the character appears as a garbage man. His acting career became much quieter after that, but his most recent role was in the 2024 TV film Acting Coach Nightmare.
In Memoriam
Everett Collection
Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head, died on April 6, 2017, at age 90 from kidney failure. He voiced Mr. Potato Head in the first three films, and unused archival audio was later used for Toy Story 4, which was dedicated in part to his memory.
Everett Collection
Jim Varney, who voiced Slinky Dog, died on February 10, 2000, at age 50 from lung cancer. Varney voiced Slinky Dog in Toy Story and Toy Story 2, the latter of which was his final film released during his lifetime. After his death, Blake Clark took over the role.
Everett Collection
R. Lee Ermey, who voiced Sarge, the leader of the Green Army Men, died on April 15, 2018, at age 74 from complications related to pneumonia. A former U.S. Marine drill instructor, Ermey became famous for playing Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket, a role that earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He later brought that same no-nonsense authority to Sarge in Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Remind 
Collecting Disney
August 2021
Celebrate the magical world of Disney collectibles
Buy This Issue