Fans flock to meet legendary voice actor Jim Cummings

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Thousands of people descended on the Peoria Civic Center for Quad Con Peoria’s comic book and toy show. Many of them came to meet the voice behind hundreds of iconic cartoon characters like Winnie the Pooh and his bouncy best friend Tigger.

Jim Cummings has provided the voice for hundreds of Disney and Warner Brothers characters, including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger the Tasmanian devil, Ray from The Princess and the Frog, and Ed the hyena from The Lion King.

Cummings spent the day at the convention signing autographs and taking photos with excited fans.

“You can imagine someone being taken back to their old age, you know, they’re 45 years old. But in this moment they’re five years old, and that’s sweet,” Cummings said.

Hope Mastin has been a fan of the cartoon bear since she was a child and has even brought Pooh to some of the most important moments in her life.

“My eyes were filling with tears, I didn’t know what to say. I was so nervous and excited. And it was just overwhelming. I even had my Winnie the Pooh bracelet on that I wore at my wedding, so Winnie the Pooh had to be at my wedding too,” Mastin said.

The voice actor said that no matter how old you are, you can always learn a thing or two from Winnie the Pooh.

“It’s a beautiful feeling because in this crazy world, we need all the sweetness and love and kindness we can get. And that’s all Pooh is. It’s a return to innocence, you know, a sweeter time, a gentler time. And I’m really proud and happy to be the guy who can do that for people,” Cummings said.

Cummings will be signing autographs and meeting fans at the Peoria Civic Center on Sunday, July 14.