See the voices behind your favorite Cars characters

After years of on-screen projects, such as Anaconda (1997), Armageddon (1998), Meet the Parents (2000), Zoolander (2001), Shanghai Knights (2003), Starsky & Hutch (2004), and Wedding Crashers (2005), Owen Wilson voiced Lightning McQueen, a rookie car new to the competition. Wilson continued his voice work with the Cars franchise, returning to Lightning for Cars 2 (2011), Cars 3 (2017), and the TV series Cars on the Road. He earned additional voice credits for Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), Marmaduke (2010), and Free Birds (2013). Wilson stars on Marvel Studios' Loki, streaming on Disney+, and will appear in the film reboot of Disney's Haunted Mansion.

Paul Newman graced Cars with his Oscar-winning presence as Doc Hudson, an old-school car who serves as a judge and doctor. After decades spent appearing in classics like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), The Hustler (1961), and Cool Hand Luke (1967), Newman's turn in the animated film was one of his last projects. He died in September 2008 at the age of 83.

Bonnie Hunt joined Cars as Sally Carrera, the car town's lawyer. In addition to her famed on-screen career, Hunt contributed voice work to A Bug's Life (1998), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Toy Story 3 (2010), Cars 2, Monsters University (2013), Zootopia (2016), Cars 3, Toy Story 4 (2019), and Monsters at Work (2021).

Cars found its Mater in Larry the Cable Guy. The comedian voiced the tow truck as his first credited big-screen gig. He returned to the role for Cars 2 and 3, Mater's Tall Tales, Cars on the Road, and various other spin-off projects.

Cheech Marin voiced Ramone, the flashy hot rod, in all the Cars films. Marin's other voice credits include Oliver & Company (1988), FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992), The Lion King (1994), The Book of Life (2014), Coco (2017), Elena of Avalor (2017–2020), and Maya and the Three (2021).

Tony Shalhoub lent his voice to the Cars films as Luigi, an appropriately Italian Fiat who runs a tire shop. The actor is still best known for his on-screen roles, such as Wings (1990–1997), Big Night (1996), Men in Black (1997), Monk (2002–2009), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

It was hardly a stretch for Guido Quaroni to play Guido in Cars. He voiced the forklift after lending his voice to Monsters, Inc., but his primary job at Pixar was behind the scenes doing technical work, serving on the senior technology team for films including Brave (2012) and Inside Out (2015).

Before she was Ruby on Black-ish, Jenifer Lewis was Flo in Cars. The actress voiced the diner owner, earning other vocal credits for The PJs (1999–2001), Shark Tale (2004), The Princess and the Frog (2009), and Big Hero 6: The Series (2017–2021), among other animated works.

Paul Dooley found his place in the Cars universe as Sarge, the army-green military vet. The Sixteen Candles actor's other voice roles include episodes of Sesame Street and Batman: The Animated Series, Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street (2001), and Turbo (2013).

Michael Wallis voiced Sheriff, the resident police car, in Cars. The gig was Wallis' first credited acting role, and the journalist and American West historian went on to voice Sheriff in Cars 2, 3, and multiple spin-offs.

Cars' hippie bus Fillmore was voiced by George Carlin. The comedian and author's other acting credits include Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Shining Time Station, and The George Carlin Show. Though Fillmore appears in all of the Cars films, Carlin only voiced him in the first film and video game. After Carlin died in June 2008, Lloyd Sherr took over as the vintage microbus.

Lightning McQueen found his rival in Chick Hicks, voiced by Michael Keaton. The Oscar-nominated star expanded his voice résumé with Toy Story 3, Noah (2012), and Minions (2015).