Rupert Degas


Rupert Joel Degas is a British-Australian actor, best known for his voice work in animation and audiobooks. Since the 1980s, he has worked in film and television, theater, video games, radio productions and podcasts, audiobooks and as a producer.

Early life and education

Degas was born in London in 1970, to film and TV screenwriter Brian Degas and radio and television presenter Maggie Clews. He was educated at Hill House School in Knightsbridge and Emanuel School in Wandsworth.

Career

Animation

Best known as the voice of Scrambler in Bob the Builder from 2002-2011, Degas has lent his voice to a string of cartoons such as Chop Socky Chooks, Robotboy, Thomas & Friends and The Amazing World of Gumball. He also played several characters in the animated feature film Planet 51. Since moving to Australia, Degas has provided voices for The Wild Adventures of Blinky Bill, Kitty Is Not a Cat, The Strange Chores and

Audiobook narration

Degas has narrated over 250 audiobooks including A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks which The Times reviewed as "exceptionally well read". He has received particular critical acclaim for his performances of The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss , and Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. Degas says of audiobooks, "I do accents. It's my specialty." The Guardian called his voice performances "shape-shifting".

Film and television

Degas's first film appearance was in Jerry Schatzberg's Reunion, followed by TV appearances in Dead Romantic, Over Here, A Touch of Frost and Passport to Murder. Other notable film and TV appearances include Holby City, Love Soup, Shoot the Messenger, Nathan Barley and Red Dwarf.

Theatre

Having been a regular Newsrevue performer at the Canal Café Theatre and at the Edinburgh Fringe, Degas made his West End theatre debut in Stones in His Pockets at The Duke of York's Theatre and the New Ambassadors Theatre followed by The 39 Steps at The Criterion Theatre in London's Piccadilly Circus.

Radio and podcasts

On radio, Degas has performed in over eighty plays and series, most notably BBC productions of The Brightonomicon, Dirk Gently and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He also played Pantalaimon in the full cast audio production of His Dark Materials.

Awards and honours