Michaela Dietz
Dietz at the 2016 Florida Supercon
Born (1982-11-01) November 1, 1982 (age 41)[1]
Incheon, South Korea
Alma materMiddlebury College
OccupationVoice actress
Years active2005–present

Michaela Dietz (born November 1, 1982) is an American voice actress whose professional career started in 2005. She voiced the character of Riff on the PBS children's television series Barney & Friends, Amethyst on the Cartoon Network television series Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future, Dolly Dalmatian on Disney Channel's 101 Dalmatian Street, Pita in Fallout 76, Vee on Disney Channel's The Owl House, and Darryl McGee on Disney Channel's The Ghost and Molly McGee.

Early life and career

Dietz was born in Incheon, South Korea[1] on November 1, 1982, then was adopted and raised in Cooperstown, New York at three months old. She studied International Studies at Middlebury College.[2] She has spoken about how her experience as an adoptee inspires her performance as Amethyst on Steven Universe.[3][4][5]

Dietz began acting on television in 2005 with the role Ellie in Discover Me. She later appeared in a short in 2009 entitled Red, Black & Blonde as an Auditioning Dancer #1 and Interracial Couple #3 in K-Town.[6]

Later career

Dietz has voiced ongoing characters in two American children's animated TV series, Riff in Barney & Friends[7] and Amethyst in Steven Universe and its epilogue series Steven Universe Future.[1][8][9] However, her role as Amethyst was the first time she had voiced an animated character.[5]

She voiced Amethyst in the mobile phone games Cartoon Network Superstar Soccer: Goal (2014), Steven Universe: Attack the Light (2015), Steven Universe: Save the Light (2017), Steven Universe: Unleash the Light (2019).[10][11] In 2019, she voiced Amethyst in the TV film, Steven Universe: The Movie, a continuation from the Steven Universe animated series.[12] She also voiced Amethyst in an anti-racism PSA by Rebecca Sugar and Ian Jones-Quartey in 2021.[13]

She has since go on to voice several characters for Disney, such as Dolly Dalmatian on 101 Dalmatian Street,[14] Vee on The Owl House[15] and Darryl McGee on The Ghost and Molly McGee.[16][17] She also voiced Glass Boy in the Adventure Time: Distant Lands episode, "Obsidian",[18][19] and Danelda in two episodes of Mighty Magiswords.[20]

She also voiced Blue Behemoth in Kid Cosmic,[21] and Dottie in two episodes of Tuca & Bertie.[22] Additionally, she voiced various characters in Monsters at Work,[23][24] Jennifer in an episode of Fairfax,[25] and Michelle Green in four episodes of Craig of the Creek.[a] She recently voiced Ariel in the 2022 episode, "Ariel Force One", of Middlemost Post.[26]

She also voiced characters in video games such as Grand Theft Auto V,[27][28] Fallout 76: Wastelanders,[29] and Lego Dimensions.[30]

In 2021, she voiced Tomas in the film, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.[31] The previous year she provided narration for a series of narrated videos which were part of a Cartoon Network digital series celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.[32][33]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2005 Discover Me Ellie
2009 Red, Black & Blonde Auditioning Dancer #1 Short
K-Town Interracial Couple #3
2012 Totally Smooth Sherry Short
2019 Steven Universe: The Movie Amethyst Voice, television film
2021 The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf Tomas Voice[34]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006–2010 Barney & Friends Riff Voice[34]
2013–2019 Steven Universe Amethyst, Famethyst, Hoppy, Zooman Walla, Gem Soldiers, Cluster, Obsidian, Gem Monster Voice, main role[34]
2017–2018 Mighty Magiswords Danelda Voice, 2 episodes[34]
2019–2020 101 Dalmatian Street Dolly Dalmatian Voice, main role
Steven Universe Future Amethyst, Blue Lace Agate, Ocean Jasper, Famethyst, Red Striped Jasper, Chert Voice, main role[34]
2020 Adventure Time: Distant Lands Glass Boy Voice, episode: "Obsidian"[34]
Craig of the Creek Michelle Green Voice, 2 episodes
2021 Kid Cosmic Blue Behemoth Voice, 2 episodes[34]
Tuca & Bertie Dottie Voice, episode: "Planteau"
American Dad! New Doctor, Clephanie Voice, 2 episodes
Fairfax Jennifer, Hans Kim Voice, episode: "Secure the Bag"
2021–2023 The Owl House Vee Voice, 4 episodes[34]
2021–2024 Monsters at Work Additional monsters, Snore Voice, recurring role[34]
The Ghost and Molly McGee Darryl McGee Voice, recurring role[34]
2022 Middlemost Post Ariel, Tilly Voice, 3 episodes
Lego Monkie Kid Scorpion Queen Voice, episode: "Amnesia Rules"
Baby Shark's Big Show! Wallace Voice, episode: "Welcome Wagon"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Grand Theft Auto V The Local Population
2014 Cartoon Network Superstar Soccer: Goal Amethyst Mobile phone game
2015 Steven Universe: Attack the Light Amethyst Mobile phone game[34]
Lego Dimensions Chunk Level Packs
2017 Steven Universe: Save the Light Amethyst [34]
2019 Steven Universe: Unleash the Light Amethyst
2020 Fallout 76: Wastelanders Dorothea Dias, Fuzzy Brenda, Maggie "P.I.T.A." Stern, Dr. Nowak, Blood Eagles DLC

Notes

  1. ^ The season 2 episode "Into the Overpast" and the season 3 episodes "The Rise and Fall of the Green Poncho", "Capture the Flag Part 3: The Legend", and "Capture the Flag Part 5: The Game".

References

  1. ^ a b c Wright, Mary Ellen (March 21, 2019). "'Steven Universe' star Michaela Dietz to share gem of a role with fans at Zenkaikon this weekend". Lancaster Online. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Steven Universe Series Regulars". Turner Broadcasting System. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Michaela Dietz was born in South Korea, adopted and raised in Cooperstown, New York. She voiced the character Riff on the children's TV series, Barney & Friends (2006 – 2010)...Michaela received her BA in International Studies with a focus in Economics from Middlebury College.
  3. ^ McKenzie Atwood (February 1, 2018). "The Steven Universe Podcast: Amethyst" (Podcast). Cartoon Network.
  4. ^ McDonnell, Chris (2017). Steven Universe: Art & Origins. Harry N. Abrams. pp. 156–7. ISBN 978-1419724435.
  5. ^ a b Laura B. (August 22, 2016). "Michaela Dietz AMA: Amethyst, Steven Universe, and More". The Geekiary. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. I'm a proud Korean-American adoptee and I think my personal experiences have allowed me to relate to Amethyst's storyline in many deep ways. This article extracts quotes from Dietz's AMA on the Steven Universe subreddit.
  6. ^ "Michaela Dietz". MN2S. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Voice of Riff". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
  8. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (August 22, 2016). "Steven Universe's Estelle Explains Why the Show's Anti-Racism PSAs Are So Important". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Framke, Caroline (March 27, 2020). "The Radical Empathy of 'Steven Universe' (Column)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  10. ^ "Michaela Dietz". Mobygames. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  11. ^ "Michaela Dietz". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  12. ^ Pearce, Steven (March 7, 2022). "Steven Universe: The Movie". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  13. ^ Bosselman, Haley (February 16, 2021). "Cartoon Network Releases Third 'Steven Universe' Anti-Racism PSA (TV News Roundup)". Archived from the original on January 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "New Voice Talent Spotted for Disney's '101 Dalmatian Street'". Animation World Network. October 31, 2018. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Owl House". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  16. ^ White, Peter (August 31, 2021). "'The Ghost & Molly McGee' Renewed For Season 2 At Disney Channel Ahead Of Premiere; Kelsey Grammer, Natasha Rothwell & Greta Gerwig Join As Guest Stars". Deadline. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  17. ^ Sarto, Dan (August 31, 2021). "Disney Channel Renews 'The Ghost and Molly McGee' Ahead of Season 1 Premiere". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Long, Rebecca (November 29, 2020). "The new Adventure Time special is the scary, sad, sweet payoff that fans demanded". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022.
  19. ^ Prudom, Laura (November 9, 2020). "Adventure Time: Distant Lands - Obsidian: Exclusive Release Date and Trailer Reveal". IGN. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "Danela Voice". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Hough, Q.V. (February 4, 2021). "Kid Cosmic Cast & Character Guide: What All The Voice Actors Look Like". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021.
  22. ^ Moore, Jenni (June 8, 2021). "Review: Tuca & Bertie Returns for More Wild and Relatable Content in Season Two". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  23. ^ "Additional Monsters". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Monsters at Work". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  25. ^ McGaughey, Lisa (November 3, 2021). "Amazon's 'Fairfax' Celebrates Premier With 'Latrine Store' Pop-Up". Blackfilm. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Trabbic III, John [@JohnTrabbic] (February 18, 2022). "All new episodes tonight on @Nickelodeon of MIDDLEMOST POST, w/ Special guest @whammybah as Ariel!!! Don't miss out, these are a super fun good time!!!! 8:30 Friday, FEB 18th #Middlemostpost" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022 – via Twitter. He is the creator of Middlemost Post
  27. ^ Coppola, Lisa (April 24, 2019). "A New Way to Connect: Podcasts by Adoptees for Adoptees (and their loved ones)". Boston Post Adoption Resources. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  28. ^ Coppola, Lisa (2017). "Cast of Steven Universe at MomoCon 2017". Nerd Exp. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  29. ^ Bethesda Game Studios Austin (April 14, 2020). Fallout 76: Wastelanders DLC. Bethesda Softworks. Scene: Credits: Voice & Music - Cast.
  30. ^ Guatum, Trisha (July 24, 2020). "Cast and Creative Director of 'Adventure Time' Discuss New Specials Out on HBO Max at Comic-Con at Home". Mxdwn. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021.
  31. ^ "Voice of Tomas". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Mitchell, Michelle (May 1, 2020). "Cartoon Network Celebrates Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Kids to Honor Their Cultures" (Press release). Atlanta, Georgia: Cartoon Network. WarnerMedia. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  33. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (May 1, 2020). "Cartoon Network's 'Drawn To' Celebrates Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Michaela Dietz (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 22, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.

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