• Hey, It's That Voice! #33: Godfrey


    Hello and welcome back to the article that let's you peek behind the scenes and look at what other roles the voices of Steven Universe have done. It's time for "Hey, It's That Voice!" Today, we will be looking behind the voice of the owner of Beach City's pizza shop, Kofi Pizza!



    To me, Kofi is an interesting character. He has a no-nonsense demeanor, he is high-strung, and very strict. But that doesn't mean he doesn't he isn't above joking or being a little mischievous. Despite his authoritative tendencies and complaining about working with his family (mostly about Jenny and sometimes his own mother, Nanefua), he does care for them deeply. So, who is the voice behind this proprietor of pizza? Why, that would be Godfrey!

    I can't really blame Kofi for being upset about the damage Garnet did.

    Godfrey was born Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr. in Lincoln, Nebraska on July 21, 1961. His parents, of Igbo heritage, immigrated to the United States to escape the Nigerian Civil War. Shortly after he was born, Godfrey and his family moved to Chicago where he grew up and attended Lane Techincal College Prep High School before attending University of Illinios at Urbana-Champaign. While attending college, he partook in varsity football. It was his impressions of the team and coaches at a talent show that Godfrey discover his comedic talent.

    He would start by honing his comedic talent the Chicago club called All Jokes Aside in the early 1990s. In 1995, Godfrey made his New York debut at Carolines on Broadway and Comic Strip Live before quickly being discovered. He first would be getting work behind the camera as the warm-up comedian for shows such as The Cosby Show and Soul Man. His first on screen appearance would be preforming some of his stand-up on Friday Night Videos. He would eventually have his own special on Comedy Central Presents.

    Godfrey preforming during his special on Comedy Central Presents.

    Godfrey would go on to star in various television and film roles, such as Original Gangstas, Joe's Apartment, Chain Reaction, LateLine, In The Weeds, 30 Years to Life, Zoolander, Third Watch, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Johnson Family Vacation, The Cookout, Phat Girlz, Celebrity Paranormal Project, Stand Up, A Dennis the Menace Christmas, The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest..., 30 Rock, Louie, Deadbeat, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Black Dynamite, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Benders, The Heart, She Holler, and @midnight. One of Godfrey's most well-known roles was Leslie Gaemon in the 2004 film Soul Plane.

    Godfrey (left) as Leslie Gaemon with Snoop Dogg (Captain Antoine Mack) in Soul Plane.

    Godfrey is also not unknown to lending his voice to cartoons. In fact, he has lent his voice to The Mr. Men Show as the U.S. voice of Mr. Stubborn and Mr. Tall (starting on season 2).

    I shouldn't be surprised that he can do both voices, but I still am a little.

    Godfrey was also a spokesman for the 7 Up soda brand. Currently, he is a regular performer at the Comedy Cellar in New York City.

    And that will do it for this edition of "Hey, It's That Voice!" Join me next time for when we look at the voice behind Kofi's mother!