VO That's Real — Never AI.
Hi everyone, I’m Dean Wendt. I’ve been performing VOs for over 30 years in the industry. You might know me best as the longest-running voice actor for Barney the Dinosaur (2000-2022).
For me, it’s not just about voicing well-known roles, it’s about working with clients, collaborating on ideas, and creating something real and delivering authentic emotion that connects with people.
I’d love to talk with you about your next project and help bring your vision to life — let’s make it unforgettable!
-Dean Wendt
Voice Actor
Dean Wendt Voice Demos
Beyond his legendary role as Barney, Dean brings over 25 years of experience delivering compelling commercial and corporate voiceover work that connects with audiences of all ages. His versatility allows him to move seamlessly from warm, friendly character work to sophisticated luxury brand campaigns with authentic, engaging delivery.
Explore the collection of Dean's voiceover projects. From conversational, to fun and funny characters, to engaging commercials and professional narration – he pours his passion and personality into every performance. Let's find the voice that brings your vision to life.
Tip: Tap the ≡ icon in the player to change demo categories.The Voice You Know: Barney the Dinosaur
For over two decades, Dean Wendt's voice has touched millions of lives as the beloved voice of Barney the Dinosaur, one of the most iconic and recognized children's characters worldwide. From 2000-2022, Dean brought joy and learning to children across the globe, recording hundreds of episodes, albums, and live shows that helped shape a generation. This remarkable tenure with one of television's most successful franchises demonstrates Dean's exceptional consistency, professionalism, and ability to maintain character integrity at the highest level.
My Voice Work
From commercials to cartoons, movie trailers to documentaries, audiobooks to presentations, and everything in between - I offer a unique and distinct blend of talents. With over 30 years of experience as a recording studio engineer and professional singer, and a background deeply rooted in voice and theater training, I've successfully tackled it all. Let's connect and get your project made.
TV Commercials • Radio Commercials • Video Games • Medical Narrations • Corporate Narrations • “On-Hold” Telephony • Character Work • Internet Commercials • Online-Upstart Videos • Podcasts • Audiobooks • E-Learning Modules • Animated Explainers • Voicemail Greetings • App Voiceovers • Educational Videos • Training Videos • and much more!
Signature Sound
Warm, conversational tone that connects instantly with audiences
Authoritative yet approachable delivery perfect for luxury brands
Versatile range from friendly and energetic to sophisticated and professional
Natural, authentic style that brings scripts to life
Notable Achievements
Voice of Barney the Dinosaur (2000-2022)
Hundreds of television episodes
Multiple albums and home video releases
Live show recordings
Global broadcast reach in multiple countries
Beloved by millions of children worldwide
Major Brand Experience
Luxury automotive campaigns (Lexus)
National brands (ABC, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Mitsubishi)
Corporate narration and e-learning
Network television and radio
Children's entertainment and character work
Languages & Ages
I speak English with a North American accent and cover all age ranges from young adult to senior.
So whether your project needs a youthful vibe or a mature tone, I have the vocal expertise to deliver.
Accents
From neutral to New York, from French to Gangster, I can nail a variety of accents and characters.
Need a surfer dude or a tough guy? No problem, I’ve got those covered too.
Neutral · Mid-Atlantic · Texas · Southern · Midwestern · Redneck · Goombah · French · German · Spanish/Hispanic · Italian · Asian · Indian · Surfer Dude · New York · Japanese · Pirate · Italian · Mobster · Gangster · Tough Guy · Villain · Evil · Creep · Deadpan · US · English · Northern Jersey · New Jersey · North American · and many others
VO Highlights
Over my 30-year career, I’ve voiced commercials for big names like
ABC • AT&T • Bally’s Fitness • Barney and Friends • Bayless • Conley • CompUSA • eSurance • Levi Strauss and Company • Mattel • Miller Lite • Mitsubishi • NBCUniversal • Old Navy • Radio Shack • SeaWorld • Sprint • Taco Bell • The Walt Disney Company • Vonage
Testimonials
The voice everyone can relate to. Natural non-announcer in every way. Professional and will use again.
— Scott McCarthy, ESPN
We call Dean the one take wonder! Brings everything he says to life.
— Randy Dalton, HIT Entertainment
Exactly what we wanted. Conversational and friendly. Highly recommended!!!!
— Levi Strauss & Company
Great voice and a pleasure to work with.
— Richard Cook, The Walt Disney Company
VO Services
Add the warmth of a human voice and emotion AI can't replicate to your next project. Messages resonate with audiences through a human voice. Whether it’s a jingle, a commercial, narration, or a character, stand out with the a VO that's Real.
Contact me for a personalized quote, and let's bring your vision to life!
Available for:
Television & Radio Commercials
Corporate Narration
Character Voice Work
Children's Entertainment
E-Learning & Training
IVR/Phone Systems
Web Content
Equipment
When it comes to equipment, quality is key. That’s why I use top-of-the-line microphones like the Neumann U87 and Sennheiser MKH-416, paired with industry-standard software like ProTools 12 and Logic X.
Delivery
When it’s time to deliver your final product, rest assured it’ll be in the format you need, whether MP3, Source Connect, or ISDN.
Professional Capabilities
Quick turnaround on projects
Source Connect/ISDN available
Multiple revisions until client satisfaction
Professional home studio for broadcast-quality audio
Experience with live directed sessions
Character voice development and maintenance
Long-form narration expertise
Whether you need a trusted voice for your next commercial campaign, a compelling narrator for your corporate video, or an engaging character for your children's content, Dean brings decades of professional experience and versatility to every project.
Human VO vs AI VO
Emotion & Expression
✅ Human (VO): Deep, nuanced emotion and natural expression.
❌ AI (VO): Limited depth; often lacks genuine emotional nuance.
Authenticity
✅ Human (VO): Unique, genuine voice tailored to individual characters.
❌ AI (VO): Often sounds uniform or artificial, lacking personal touch.
Adaptability
✅ Human (VO): Flexible in adjusting tone, style, and accent.
❌ AI (VO): Generally rigid; requires reprogramming for changes.
Contextual Understanding
✅ Human (VO): Intuitively understands and responds to context and subtleties.
❌ AI (VO): Struggles with complex contexts and nuanced interpretations.
Creativity
✅ Human (VO): Capable of spontaneous creativity and improvisation.
❌ AI (VO): Creativity is constrained by algorithms and pre-set parameters.
Cultural Nuance
✅ Human (VO): Sensitive to and can convey cultural and linguistic subtleties.
❌ AI (VO): May miss cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions.
Personal Connection
✅ Human (VO): Builds genuine rapport and connection with the audience.
❌ AI (VO): Often perceived as impersonal or less engaging.
Quality of Interaction
✅ Human (VO): Engages in dynamic, interactive sessions with natural flow.
❌ AI (VO): Interaction can feel robotic or mechanical.
Complexity Handling
✅ Human (VO): Handles complex and irregular speech patterns naturally.
❌ AI (VO): May have difficulty with intricate or non-standard speech.
Customization
✅ Human (VO): Tailors performance to match specific project needs and client preferences.
❌ AI (VO): Customization is limited and less flexible.
Real-Time Adaptation
✅ Human (VO): Adjusts in real-time to feedback and changing requirements.
❌ AI (VO): Limited to predefined responses; lacks real-time adaptability.
Consistency in Performance
✅ Human (VO): Provides a consistent and high-quality performance across various contexts.
❌ AI (VO): Consistent but can lack the personal touch of human performance.
Cost
✅ Human (VO): Provides exceptional quality and personalization that delivers long-term value.
❌ AI (VO): Requires additional costs for adjustments and lacks the personal touch.
Speed of Production
✅ Human (VO): Offers high-quality, tailored results that meet specific needs.
❌ AI (VO): Lacks the tailored quality and depth of human VO.
Subtlety
✅ Human (VO): Can convey subtle nuances and inflections that enhance the overall message.
❌ AI (VO): May struggle with subtle tonal variations and nuances.
Natural Variation
✅ Human (VO): Displays natural variation and spontaneity in speech.
❌ AI (VO): Often uniform and predictable in speech patterns.
Empathy
✅ Human (VO): Capable of genuine empathy and emotional understanding.
❌ AI (VO): Lacks true emotional empathy and understanding.
Engagement
✅ Human (VO): More engaging and relatable for listeners.
❌ AI (VO): Can be perceived as less engaging and more mechanical.
Error Correction
✅ Human (VO): Can quickly correct mistakes and adjust performance in real-time.
❌ AI (VO): Errors can be more difficult to address and may require reprogramming.
Storytelling Ability
✅ Human (VO): Excellent at storytelling, using varied tones and pacing to enhance narratives.
❌ AI (VO): Limited storytelling capability with less dynamic delivery.
Unique Voice Characteristics
✅ Human (VO): Each individual has a unique voice with personal characteristics.
❌ AI (VO): Voices can sound similar or identical, reducing individuality.
Let's Get Started
Ready to infuse your project with authenticity? Reach out to discuss how I can bring your vision to life. Whether it’s a question or a detailed project brief, I’m here to listen and collaborate.