Josh Gad, beloved for his roles both on stage and in film, has become synonymous with the voice of Olaf, the cheerful snowman from Disney’s Frozen (2013) and its sequel Frozen II (2019). However, despite the fame and recognition the role brought him, Gad recently revealed that if given the chance, he would have approached it differently.
During a recent appearance at Fan Expo Canada, as captured in a TikTok video posted on September 12, Gad candidly admitted, “If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have used my own voice for Olaf. I would’ve created a completely different voice for the character.”
His reasoning? His voice has become far too closely associated with the animated snowman, making it instantly recognizable in everyday situations. Gad humorously described one such experience: “It’s really strange to be in a grocery store and have a child slowly turn their head toward me with that look of recognition.” He added, “That was my first big mistake.”
Although the Frozen star may have some regrets about using his regular voice for Olaf, the 43-year-old is still grateful for the connection fans feel toward his character. “I do try to give them that warm hug when I can,” he said, referring to Olaf’s famous line about warm hugs.
This isn’t the first time Gad has opened up about his connection to Olaf. He has even joked about how his daughters, Ava, 13, and Isabella, 10, prefer not to hear the snowman’s voice at home. Gad, who shares the girls with his wife, Ida Darvish, recalled on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2017 that his daughters would often ask him to “read as Daddy” rather than using his Olaf voice during bedtime stories. “They say, ‘Not as Olaf,’ but I honestly don’t distinguish between the two,” Gad shared with a laugh. “Nobody wants to be me, not even in my own house. It’s kind of sad.”
In addition to his daughters’ requests, Gad’s iconic voice has also led to some amusing and awkward fan interactions. In a 2019 interview with People, Gad recounted a memorable incident where his voice recognition as Olaf caused confusion. He was out with his kids and trying to parent in the moment when a young fan approached. “I was telling my daughter not to do something because it wasn’t safe,” Gad explained. “Then a kid came up to me and asked, ‘Is Olaf mad at his daughter?’”
Gad found the encounter humorous but layered. “The kid looked so puzzled,” he said, recalling how the child’s mind was racing with questions: “Why does this guy sound like Olaf? Does Olaf have kids? Or is he pretending?”
Despite the humorous confusion his voice often causes, Gad acknowledges that Olaf’s cheerful, warm-hearted personality has made a significant impact on audiences. “I get recognized by my voice far more than I expected,” he admitted. While this may lead to some unusual moments, it’s clear that Gad’s portrayal of Olaf continues to resonate deeply with fans young and old alike.
