Has Frank Welker always been Fred?

Frank Welker is the voice synonymous with the beloved character, Fred Jones.

Back in 1969, when “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” first aired, it was Casey Kasem who lent his voice to Fred. Welker joined the cast the same year, but not as Fred.

It wasn’t until 1974, when Kasem stepped down, that Welker took on the mantle of voicing Fred in the “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Movies” and continued to do so in almost every Scooby-Doo iteration since then.

Of course, there were exceptions. In “A Pup Named Scooby-Doo” from 1988 to 1991, a younger Fred was voiced by Carl Steven.

Then came “Scoob!” in 2020, where none of the original voice actors returned to their roles. In the recent “Velma” series in 2023, Welker voiced Fred’s father, not Fred himself.

But Welker’s connection with Scooby-Doo goes beyond Fred. He also took over voicing Scooby-Doo himself in 2002 after Kasem retired. This dual role solidified Welker’s place in the hearts of fans as the voice of both halves of the iconic duo.

So, while Welker wasn’t the first to voice Fred, his enduring portrayal has made him the definitive voice of Fred Jones, forever carving his name in Scooby-Doo history.