Kevin Michael Richardson Reveals Which Character On The Cleveland Show Is The Hardest To Voice

Speaking with HitFix's Dan Fienberg in 2012, Kevin Michael Richardson said that the voice of Cleveland Brown's son Cleveland Jr. was one that was especially difficult for him. "Actually, Junior's hard to do, because this is my natural speaking voice," he said in his normal bass, "and Junior's way up there."

Richardson said that when the cast of "The Cleveland Show" did morning table reads, he would need to do vocal warm-ups to be able to fully reach the high pitch of Cleveland's sweet but dim-witted son. Looking back through the long list of characters he's voiced over the years, it is clear that he tends to skew in the direction of those who share his deep bass. Still, it is quite clear that Richardson has serious vocal versatility.

Though "The Cleveland Show" ended in 2013, Cleveland Brown and the rest of his family –- including Cleveland Jr. -– are still gracing TV screens since returning to Quahog, Rhode Island, and the world of "Family Guy." Recently, however, the voice of the senior Cleveland switched up. In 2021, Mike Henry, who had voiced Cleveland for twenty years, stepped away from the role to allow a Black actor to take his place. He is now voiced by Arif Zahir (via USA Today). That same year, Richardson also took over from Harry Shearer to voice Dr. Hibbert on "The Simpsons."