Comparing The Voices - Darth Sidious/Palpatine

The Voices of Darth Sidious (aka Chancellor/Emperor Palpatine)
Who is Your Favorite Darth Sidious Voice? Who Do You Want To See Next?
For More Comparing The Voices - • Comparing The Voices
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[@DevinHandy.]

I vote Ian McDiarmid

[@elijahbutterfield4869]

Exemerald Gaming best voice? McDiarmid. best dialogue? McFarlane.

[@TheRash12]

dialogue is not decided by the actor so that's irrelevent to mention

[@elijahbutterfield4869]

Darth. Vader But didn't McFarlane help with the script?

[@DevinHandy.]

McDiarmid has the best, voice, look, and personality for the emperor and he played him really well. The emperor is my favorite character in Star Wars and that's why I vote him. He did awesome in the movies.

[@TheRash12]

Eli Butterfield help

[@Bobby_boucher31]

Ian McDiarmid is obviously the best, but Ian Abercrombie and Sam Witwer did a really good job as well.

[@anthonyelie4700]

Agreed.

[@Spongejeezy]

+Bobby Boucher tim curry as well

[@primetimemonkyhours743]

Nick Jameson was alright

[@bebo2629]

+Bobby Boucher yes

[@Mogemann]

Sam Witwer also plays the protagonist in the force unleashed

[@DxPxOfficial]

Ian Abercrombie did such a fantastic job in the Clone Wars I legitimately thought they hired Ian McDiarmid to reprise his role. “Our stocks will rise high!”

[@bomes2084]

they got the next best ian

[@chrisconnors7327]

@@bomes2084 clive Revill

[@johngonzalez509]

Ian made palpatine come alive too

[@bigbrotherishere]

Not as sinister as Sidious, but is absolutely perfect as the chancellor.

[@Zoomii5]

Sam Witwer has literally voiced everyone in Star Wars: Starkiller, Palpatine, Maul, probably more.

[@VaughnL]

Also the Son in the Mortis Arc

[@anthonyorozco905]

He is the best

[@traptinseid8577]

He is really good.

[@jacktheflash8478]

Where the hell did you get everyone from?

[@nishantmudgal4434]

Sam Witwer is a Nice Guy!!

[@galagize9233]

Witwer voiced Maul, The emperor, and Starkiller, you can't be more badass.👏

[@SpectralArchivist]

As Variety Joe said, he also voiced the Son of Mortis. So he has the Emperor, Maul, the Son of Mortis, and Starkiller on his resume.

[@goldengoose6950]

He's the most used Star Wars voice actor ever

[@TylerAnderson-bh5kv]

He also played doomsday I Smallville!

[@benmoreno5882]

@@TylerAnderson-bh5kvtalking just about sw

[@Alexlarning]

I agree

[@LastSifu]

To be fair, most of them were doing impressions of Ian McDiarmid's Sidious.

[@tomascoronado6849]

All more the reason Ian Mcdiarmid is the best!

[@CalicoJackal]

The Last Sifu That's what they were supposed to do.

[@goldengoose6950]

No shit, he was the original so they had to. If anyone did a new voice, people would've hated it

[@ALEXANDERATTACK]

@@goldengoose6950 He wasn't the original though...

[@goldengoose6950]

@@ALEXANDERATTACK Nobody cares about the original dude. That's why he was replaced

[@JediJack6]

Ian Abercrombie sounds more like Ian McDiarmid than Ian McDiarmid

[@ConnorTerrell]

I'm just waiting for him to tell Elaine to get him socks.

[@JediJack6]

@@ConnorTerrell I'm guessing this is from Seinfeld, but I don't get the reference.

[@ConnorTerrell]

@@JediJack6 Ian Abercrombie played Mr. Pitt, and Elaine was his personal assistant, essentially his errand girl.

[@JediJack6]

@@ConnorTerrell cool

[@cnash2099]

He really does, that's why it was so weird hearing Tim Curry at the Trial or Ahsoka

[@cameronbleecker9072]

nobody comes even close to Ian McDiarmid. his voice is just bone chilling, like he truly is the embodiment of evil

[@ebonkinght]

Ian Abercrombie was close

[@mistamysteriuh]

@@ebonkinght he did a brilliant chancellor voice

[@jacktheflash8478]

PhantomKiller76 and his sidious is great as well

[@chadpeterson5698]

Not even Tim Curry comes close

[@LordVader1094]

Uhhh, bullshit. Ian Abercrombie came VERY close.

[@zac5370]

I swear, for how many times I've watched the original trilogy, Seth McFarlane is the voice I think of for the Emperor. "What the hell is an aluminum falcon?"

[@CoffeeManiac20]

*sigh* ok so who's left?

[@crazyfire9470]

SeekerMillan ARE YOU SHITTING ME?

[@soogitill]

@@crazyfire9470 Where are you?

[@TREVORVADER]

Zac I have the same problem

[@ryanyaksich4047]

@@user-vd6sk2fu4v bro, who the fuck asked you? It's an awesome show loved by thousands. If you dont like it, dont watch it. Dont come commenting your bullshit to people who want to just talk about what they like.

[@erickzeros]

Ian IS palpatine, and Sam is his best cover.

[@ianli3027]

I think Ian Abercrombie did a better performance than Sam, but that's just my opinion.

[@VirtualVisionStudiosOfficial]

Yea I think Ian Abercrombie did better. Whenever I hear Sam do some dark voice, I only think of Darth Maul now lmao xD

[@Scyclo]

I like sam. His performance in battlefront 2015 was very well done. I feel he did a better job on palpatines voice in battlefront as opposed to force unleashed.

[@jamessteiniger7016]

I'm more impressed that they decided to model Palpatine after Ian Abercrombie when they animated him. An Easter egg just for him.

[@littleweeklyvloggingbro8583]

NO..NO NO NO Seth McFarlane is the empire

[@shoot646]

I don’t mind Tim Curry as Sidious but his chancellor voice isn’t great

[@gustavop.9379]

wait, ian didnt die >:(

[@gustavop.9379]

ohh, the other ian, this is confusing hshdhdahdhe

[@shoot646]

fly crap I hope that if there are, that Ian Mcdiarmid plays him. He said he wants to play Palpatine more often and they redubbed Rebels season 2 with his voice. I’d be very happy to hear him in clone wars

[@AIrfan-cz2kt]

Yeah, his Sidious impression, while has some Ian's charm in it felt a bit lacking tbh. I honestly liked his Premier Cherdenkov character more.

[@Denchar1138]

The Clone Wars creative team usually does the voice acting first when making the show so that they can sync the facial animation to the performances easier and more accurate, so Tim playing Palpatine would have occurred just before the stroke.

[@NyJoanzy]

Tim Curry? So that's what happened after he escaped capitalism into space.

[@theplanetmercury7487]

spaaace

[@augakem]

"I'm escaping to ONE PLACE that hasn't been corrupted by capitalism..." *funny grin* "SPACE!"

[@theplanetmercury7487]

@@augakem Thank you, malaria, very cool!

[@Nicox-cw6zu]

Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccceeeeeeeeeee

[@Jedi_Spartan_38]

I was about to say that's the main thing I associate him.

[@CoffeeManiac20]

honestly, I didnt know Tim frigging Curry voiced the Emperor.

[@assassin1478]

SeekerMillan he’s just a Sith Tranvestite

[@nikolaibelinski3433]

@@assassin1478 and that one guy who said he escaping to one place that hasnt be corrupted by captialism.............. Can you guess the reference

[@Myzrael1988]

@@nikolaibelinski3433 red alert

[@alejandrogorricho4791]

@@nikolaibelinski3433 SPACE!!!

[@Legionbass19]

SeekerMillan Well, he only did so in a small handful of episodes, to be fair.

[@JamesSmith-uc8nt]

Ian McDiramnd voice just matches the look of the Emperor. No one can match

[@primeoggaming876]

Sure

[@LINSENT]

Bruh

[@alexgick3152]

DryAssChicken Ian McDarmid for Life

[@pigmandan9586]

The only person who comes close to ians darth sidious' voice is tim curry's darth sidious voice

[@SpectralArchivist]

Ian McDiarmid is a fantastic actor for the Emperor, and no one quite gets it like he did, but the actors for Sidious in the Clone Wars were pretty good, in my opinion

[@Icyfire25]

Tim Curry is a legendary voice/actor and his sidious is pretty good, but his chancellor palpatine just aint it lol

[@TheJoeJoe323]

Completely agree. His Sidious is pretty great.

[@brandonproductions8401]

*SPACE*

[@moseshernandez6536]

That's the foo from home alone 2

[@scout3443]

Ohhh thats Tim Curry lol anyone remember him in that one ep of Psych

[@johanliebert4622]

Nah.

[@chrismhp]

6:58 well that aged really well after Rise of Skywalker lol.

[@xanshen9011]

Not canon. Sorry try again.

[@Scrotum1966]

Not even, Rey's father was actually one of Palpatine's clones so he didn't get laid...

[@_vakas]

@@Scrotum1966 bruh Rey had a mom

[@Scrotum1966]

@@_vakas Ok and ? Palpatine's clone got laid, not Palpatine himself

[@_vakas]

@@Scrotum1966 We don't know that, he could've had unlimited hormones (:

[@hanux4144]

Ian Mcdiarmid can make a very scary sith voice. He is brilliant

[@metoo6247]

Nope

[@olleselin]

@@metoo6247 Yup

[@metoo6247]

@@olleselin 😂😂

[@olleselin]

@@metoo6247 i'm serious, dude

[@and8091]

@@metoo6247 “Gospel or Canon, as we refer to it, includes the screenplays, the films, the radio dramas and the novelizations. These works spin out of George Lucas' original stories, the rest are created by other writers. However between us, we've read everything and much of it is taken into account in the overall continuity." - Sue Rostoni, Lucas Books and Lucas Licensing Managing Editor and Allan Kausch Continuity Editor for Lucasfilm, Star Wars Insider 23 Fall of 1994 "Continuity has been the supreme commandment at Lucasfilm for Shadows and all its Star Wars projects. The company had made the decision to not only expand its universe but have it unfold as a seamless chronicle. Whether a new star system is explored in a novel or a scene is set in ancient Jedi days from a comic series, nothing can contradict the history or logic of what has gone before. To keep it all straight there is 'The Canon', a timeline of major events and lifespan of main characters prepared by the continuity editors of Lucasfilm and considered the in-house bible of the Star Wars universe." - Mark Cotta Vaz, The Secrets of Shadows of the Empire, 1996 “Everyone in the content-creating galaxy of Star Wars has a copy of “The Bible,” a burgeoning canonical document (currently a hundred and seventy pages long) that is maintained by “continuity editors” Allan Kausch and Sue Rostoni. It is a chronology of all the events that have ever occurred in the Star Wars universe, in all the films, books, CD-roms, Nintendo games, comic books, and role-playing guides, and each medium is seamlessly coordinated with the others.””-Tom Dupree, editor for Bantam Spectra Star Wars books article from the New Yorker, Why the force is still with us, January 6, 1997 "Everything that (is approved) by Lucasfilm is official. No matter how small the contribution, we've added to the well,"- Peter Schweighofer‏, author for the EU, Star Wars Galaxy Collector magazine #1 by Topps, 1998 “According to Lucas Licensing Editor Sue, Rostoni, ‘Canon refers to an authoritative list of books that Lucas Licensing editors consider an authentic part of the official Star Wars history. Our goal is to present a continuous and unified history of the Star Wars galaxy, insofar as that history does not conflict with, or undermine the meaning of Mr. Lucas’s Star Wars saga of films and screenplays.’ Things that Lucas Licensing does not consider official parts of the continuous Star Wars history show an Infinities logo or are contained in Star Wars Tales. Everything else is considered canon.”-Sue Rostoni, Lucas Books and Lucas Licensing Managing Editor, in Star Wars gamer #6, July 1, 2001 “Basically, everything except those items marked with an “Infinity” logo (i.e. the Star Wars Tales comics) is considered canon.”-Sue Rostoni, Lucas Books and Lucas Licensing Managing Editor, Starwars.com May 30, 2003 “”Lucasfilm canon” refers to anything produced by any of the Lucas companies, whether it be movies, books games or internet. “Movie canon” is only what you see and hear in the Star Wars films”- Leland Chee, Continuity Database administrator aka Keeper of the Holocron for Lucas Licensing, Starwars.com May 30, 2003 Continuity vs canon) “Its pretty much the same-sounds better to say that we try to maintain the continuity of the universe, rather than saying the canon of the universe”- Sue Rostoni, Lucas Books and Lucas Licensing Managing Editor, on Starwars.com September 2003 “When asked if the G and C-levels formed separate and independent canon, Chee responded by stating that both were part of a single canon: “There is one overall continuity.”"-Leland Chee, Continuity Database administrator aka Keeper of the Holocron for Lucas Licensing, on Starwars.com August 4, 2004 “The concept of an expanded universe certainly isn’t unique to star wars. Many popular genre properties from Star Trek to Alien, release spin off tales that shed light on events not seen in the official narrative. But Star Wars EU is unique both in its size and its care which is in the narrative which is shepherd and organized and Star Wars the Expanded universe is official.” -Daniel Wallace, Author for the Expanded Universe, Star wars insider 101 May 2008

[@et3747]

Both Ian’s are the best

[@Dragondave17real]

Agree although Seth had me dying, spitting and choking balls.

[@asqudarthehentaigod2816]

et 37 Tim Curry is pretty good and Sam Witwer is ok personally i think he plays a better Maul

[@jtomtl]

Damn right, his voice makes me want to turn to the dark side

[@moist_captain]

Of course. He is the senate!

[@sandrojones8068]

i made it 1K

[@jakeandthebowtie]

I just love Sam Witwer - the work he's done for the Star Wars franchise, and yet hardly anyone knows his name... (in the mainstream that is)

[@undead.rising]

I know him as Doomsday from Smallville... I think he's a brilliant (and underrated) actor.

[@MrWhatdafuBOOM]

Nick Jameson doesn't get nearly enough recognition. He is absolutely great at portraying the professional politician and somewhat oblivious gentleman Palpatine as well as the dark and twisted plotter Sidious. They sound like two entirely separate characters, which is perfect, seeing how Palpatine wants the public to believe just that. For me, Nick immediately comes second after Ian.

[@shinkenger2011]

YEAH!

[@TheJackish90]

I agree, wholeheartedly! I wouldn't mind hearing a reprisal!

[@Farrellbrothers1]

I COMPLETELY agree. He does such a great job

[@anaussie213]

Cept he pronounces his own job title incorrectly. Notice how Ian pronounces chancellor in this scene. The British way, not the American pronunciation of Jameson. Even Portman gets it right to match Ian in this scene (well, she sure tries at least). kzbin.info/www/bejne/eF7aYoaYoNWtjJo

[@MrWhatdafuBOOM]

@@anaussie213 How is british pronounciation 'wrong'?

[@GenerationWest]

Good....GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD!

[@chibiprussia5574]

Yu-Gi-Oh 5Ds =^.^=

[@marvelanddcvillainfan7009]

how about the Comparing The Voices of darth maul

[@MegaPikachu5]

***** both ians are my personal best

[@ChanceSavvy]

Albert Wesker from Resident Evil would be a good one

[@Brickmaster709]

***** ian Mcdiarmid is my fav

[@nathaniel201]

When I first heard Tim Curry's Chancellor Palpatine, as someone who has a lot of respect for him, I was kind of disappointed. But when he transitions to Sidious, it's a whole different story. His Sidious voice is terrifying. Although Ian McDiarmid's still the best, Tim Curry actually kind of pulls off the "two different characters" vibe and could actually be convincing in hiding his true identity, whereas McDiarmid is clearly evil in everything he says.

[@gamewalker1157]

Nathaniel Olds I agree. I am not a fan of his Palpatine voice, that one goes to Ian Abercrombie, however, his Sidious voice is a much different story, since his voice sounds extremely terrifying and evil.

[@EGarrett01]

Tim Curry definitely has the experience to pull off a character like that in multiple facets. He also played Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Mozart in the stage production of Amadeus, Pennywise the Clown in It, Darkness in Legend, and even The Butler in Clue.

[@thetrippedup9322]

I don't like either of them

[@davisbowe8668]

I think the main problem with his Palpatine voice is that it just sounds like Tim Curry. His Sidious voice is good though.

[@itzspicey7173]

I didn’t like either of his :/

[@williebori]

06:58 Palpatine: “and maybe gotten laid one more time before I died.” Apparently, he did! Lol!

[@CyrilSmithVA]

No

[@Uchiha-fi4ij]

Ian Abercrombie will be missed :( I loved his voice acting in The Clone Wars

[@anakinsandwalker6382]

Ian McDiarmid, there's no doubt

[@ianli3027]

Ian Abercrombie did quite a excellent performance.

[@Hartzilla2007]

And guess whose back for Rebels.

[@garylytle1015]

I never noticed the shift between Ian Abercrombie and Tim curry

[@just-a-silly-goofy-guy]

Gary Lytle I thought it was very distracting, honestly...

[@timothystrickland7278]

I definitely notice it here

[@Grow-qb8rl]

Sad Ian Abercrombie died he pretty good

[@Gojirawars03]

It’s a shame. Ian Abercrombie was amazing. Not maybe Ian McDiamid, or Sam Witwer, but he’s still great!

[@frooodie2751]

I noticed it got worst

[@DxPxOfficial]

Sidious in the prequels was the best imo. He was like a demonically possessed man, with the I think it’s called polyphonic voice, a deeper tone and a higher tone speaking at the same time. And the eyes! Reminds of the Exorcist

[@kaijuslayer3334]

Sam’s voice is mega impressive to me since not only has he voiced so many other SW characters with more highly regarded performances, but he manages to do so while nailing Palpatine’s voice the best out of all the other imitators of Ian’s original performance. All while being a fairly young guy in comparison.

[@darthsader7089]

The Seth Macfarlane voice over is figgin hilarious.

[@jcrews8582]

Darth Sader IKR? Especially the sketch in this video! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@genkigirl4859]

His was the best to me.because of seth i can never watch starwars and not laugh when the emperor shows up

[@jcrews8582]

Serena B Because you get flashbacks to the Palpatine Robot Chicken sketches?

[@asiabrown99]

That's why he wins the voice comparison by default!

[@josefsecillano1105]

Darth Peter Griffin

[@ggarzagarcia]

McDiarmid. hands down. he is Sidious.

[@mortindurrex]

Gerardo Garza García he is *_T H E S E N A T E_*

[@itsishbish2689]

Kris W 69 Not yet.

[@koraysblog]

Ish Personguy It's treason, then

[@isaiahmoreno3067]

He does play me well.

[@noa_zeus]

"My lord,the Rebels escaped in the Millenium Falcon." "What the hell is an aluminum falcon?"

[@RandomShinigami7]

Regardless of who is better, I think it’s safe to say that everyone had fun going back and forth between the well meaning politician facade and the menacing puppet master. Well except Clive I guess...

[@pinheadlarry8688]

1. Ian McDiarmid 2. Sam Witwer 3. Ian Abercrombie (RIP)

[@brickbybrick7432]

DoodleBob 4: Seth Macfarlane

[@bm.g8144]

4: Tim Curry

[@dukenukem8381]

Mike stoklasa

[@mobslayer211]

Pinhead Larry it’s funny how the people who play the part best is named Ian.

[@BlakPanthaa]

wow the same guy that plays starkiller on the force Unleashed plays the Emporer as well, that's awesome, I never knew

[@IonicSarge]

he also does the voice of Darth Maul in the Clone Wars ad Rebels as well as the Emperor in Rebels

[@thefreshprince310]

Derrace Simmons hes also the voice of the emperor in battlefront

[@rocketcon]

Derrace Simmons He does a great impression of Arnold Schwarzenegger too. Have a listen to the RebelForce Radio movie commentary podcasts he did, they're very entertaining.

[@Splattercat]

He also does an impressive Christopher Walken. One of the funniest things I've ever heard is when Sam Witwer did a livestream of playing Skyrim. He made his character look like Conan and did all his dialog in his Arnold voice, but his inner monologue when he read books and such was Christopher Walken... It was hilarious. XD

[@GenerationWest]

Love his live streams, especially when he goes all "Helmut Kruger" mode lol

[@ogilly]

*“Go for Papa Palpatine!”*

[@theoriginalemim]

What the hell is an Aluminum Falcon?

[@jamesbellefeuille2926]

@@theoriginalemim "You must smell like feet, wrapped in leathery burnt bacon."

[@brendanmades7895]

There is only one Darth Sidious and that is Ian McDiarmid

[@lessalazar9068]

Ian Abercrombie is an amazing Sidious too. I'd say he does the character justice with his voice.

[@Leichtwolfe]

Umm have you heard Sam wither lol

[@michaeltruthson6262]

Sam Witwer is amazing

[@brendanmades7895]

@@michaeltruthson6262 yea true but the best one is Ian McDiarmid

[@Jahomey505]

Was gonna give you a like but 222 likes. I agree wholeheartedly though. He’s on an untouchable level

[@CatMaster90001]

While Ian McDiarmid is no doubt the ideal Palpatine, Seth McFarlane is absolutely perfect for a comedic variation of the character! XD

[@goomtrooper5051]

Think Palpatine, how do they do it in the movies? Ah, point break bitches!

[@CatMaster90001]

Goombaic "No, for the hundredth time, that's that same stupid black bag! Mine doesn't have a stripe! It's like that stripey bag is mocking me... fuck you, stripey bag!"

[@goomtrooper5051]

"What do you mean they blew up the Death Star? FUCK. Oh, ****, ****, ****... Who's THEY!? What the hell is an aluminum falcon?" "Get your seven foot two asthmatic ass back here, or I'll tell everyone what a whiny bitch you were about Padamame or Pandabear or whatever the hell her name is... Oh jeez he's crying!"

[@CatMaster90001]

Goombaic "Hey dummy! Gonna call you 'Darth Matt' from now on, as in, what do you call a guy with no arms and no legs laying on the front porch? Matt! Darth _Matt!_"

[@goomtrooper5051]

CatMaster90001 "Hey you're really looking into my soul there buddy. Seriously dude, what is it? Oh, is he going to try to kiss me?" _"Is my dad going to kiss the Emperor!?"_ "My god, this is really happening, get away from me you idiot!"

[@shademaster24601]

Wait, Witwer was Starkiller AND Palpatine? Wow...good freaking job.

[@CosmicTeapot]

+shademaster24601 I think we can just say that Witwer IS star wars

[@seangobble5846]

+shademaster24601 He's still Palpatine in Star Wars: Battlefront :)

[@TheDillpickle97]

+Aventus He also played The Son in Clone Wars

[@MrSparkles5017]

+shademaster24601 I think that says how great of a voice actor he really is.

[@AjayTheGOAT]

Darth Maul in Rebels too

[@Jedi_Spartan_38]

My top 3: 1) Ian McDiarmid, obviously 2) Sam Witwer 3) Seth MacFarlane Honorable mention: Nick Jameson

[@stardustnetwork5635]

my top 3 is Ian McDiarmid 2 Sam Witer and 3 tim curry honorable mention : Nick Jameson

[@istvanbrooks5319]

My top 3 1)-the Ians 2- Jameson 3-Mcfarlane

[@romo2674]

no

[@lukemoynan5262]

Bro no how can you leave out Ian Abercrombie

[@josephcarolan5527]

Mine 1)Ian McDiarmid 2)Ian Abercrombie 3)Sam Witwer Honourable mention:Nick Jameson

[@captainobvious9526]

Clive Revill’s voice is so good. The soft enunciations with the thoughtfulness put behind each word with that low hiss. Masterful.

[@blootube97]

The Jedi Order HATE him!! Learn how he can make you a Sith in 7 DAYS!!

[@patrickmacready1779]

lol

[@samuelmiller8487]

Ian, Ian, and Tim were pretty great at playing as Emperor Palpatine. Seth's impression was just funny.

[@dmitriitherus4398]

Ian, Ian (?) I understand but it looks strange

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@@dmitriitherus4398 it's because they both have the same name.

[@dmitriitherus4398]

@@ARandomInternetUser08 I already understood

[@ARandomInternetUser08]

@@dmitriitherus4398 hmmmmmmmmmm

[@mistamysteriuh]

I hate Tim voicing the chancellor, doesn't sound accurate or menacing enough

[@Foxtrost1079]

“Darth syphilis” hahaha hahaha

[@Tiberius_Productions]

RIP Ian Abercrombie🥺! He was in some great episodes of The Twilight Zone and sounds completely different. His Sidious/Palpatine is spot on. I wonder if Ian McDiarmid has ever acknowledged Abercrombie’s performance? Honestly, it comes down to McDiarmid, Abercrombie, and Sam Witwer for me. Tim Curry just sounds like Tim Curry doing his best Palpatine and Nick Jameson impression which honesty didn’t sound like Palpatine enough to me anyways. They do fine performances but the masters will always be McDiarmid and Abercrombie in my books.

[@Wolf6119]

I loved Abercrombie, simply because his "Palpatine" voice was genuinely endearing and warm. I always thought McDiarmid was tad obviously sinister, even when playing the Chancellor. With Abercrombie, though, I could genuinely see how people could be fooled into thinking Palpatine was just a kindly Chancellor trying his best to end the war with as little bloodshed as possible.

[@ju2tic3]

+Wolf6119 I prefer Tim carry to Abercombe, but Mcdiarmid is by far the best

[@Arctic022]

+Wolf6119 Except that McDiarmid's character was a bit more subtle in terms of actions, Abercrombie's was obviously fishy in the show and essentially was walking around with a, "I'm up to no good sign," but the writers just made everyone too stupid to notice.

[@bordonerickson5695]

+Wolf6119 It is sad that Abercrombie died. However when Curry took over and with the episodes how serious they got such as when Ahsoka leaves the order it was almost perfect that Curry was voicing. To me it showed that Palpatine was giving up the persona of being nice because the Jedi were already falling to the Dark Side and could no longer notice or do anything to stop him.

[@lyconxero457]

You should've used a clip of Sam Witwer from Rebels as I think that's the closest he's been allowed to sound to Sidious.

[@GenerationWest]

He wasn't in Rebels at the time this was made.

[@lyconxero457]

Fair enough, but it's a REALLY good clip and having heard him do Sidious in more relaxed settings he's really got it down along with MANY of voices.

[@jeanleon3537]

Agreed

[@somebuddyX]

I really like Clive Revill's Emperor and the way that that scene feels more otherworldly and mysterious.

[@KaneRobot]

Yup. He's the best.

[@SpencersStuff1777]

It reminded me too much of the wizard of Oz personally

[@charlescouch9992]

Personally grew up with the original cuts of empire and Clive revills voice definitely carries that weight of mysterious old wizard feel lol. Very classic as well and would prefer to see this than Ian in the re released dvds. Ian’s portrayal as the emperor is top tier but we should never forget our roots

[@SonicBoone56]

@@SpencersStuff1777 that's why I like it so much

[@NeutralGuyDoubleZero]

I like how much ian seperates his palpatine and sidious voices, demonstrating how deep of a cover his senator persona was.

[@captainmichaelj.caboose1777]

1 Ian McDiarmid: He will always be Palpatine 2 Ian Abercrombie: the best actor to voice Palpatine 3 Sam Witwer: Better as Darth Maul 4 Seth Macfarlene: Just hilarious

[@snazzautojazz0048]

Caboose, aren't you supposed to be with the Reds and Blues? Oh and how is Washington?

[@dancingbeans7696]

@@snazzautojazz0048 nice one

[@snazzautojazz0048]

@@dancingbeans7696 Thanks and also where's my pizza, I ordered likes year ago??

[@bluesnake1713]

Sam Witwer vs Tim Curry on who should be voicing Maul.

[@ForJustice-bl6rs]

Could anyone imagine Mark Hamill voicing Darth Sidious

[@bartholomewthundercatiii3484]

ForJustice1324 So he'd be Luke AND his mortal enemy? Ironic.

[@alexcole2443]

Not Ironic

[@bbuchanan110]

Someone's made that video using his lines as the joker over Sidious in ROTJ, you should look it up it's hilarious

[@halowars2925]

I just watched that. He would actually be pretty good.

[@Gemnist98]

Actually yes!

[@dantedoomsday]

Mike Stoklasa should be part of this list.

[@loC2ol]

dantedoomsday came to comment this. Glad someone already had.

[@MLdoktor]

aaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiids

[@sambridgers9543]

Fuck RLM. They're the reason why PT fans were ostracized for the better part of a decade.

[@sithstalker7499]

@@sambridgers9543 Boo boo baby.

[@sambridgers9543]

@@sithstalker7499 When you've been ostracized for years simply because of your film tastes, then you can criticize our resentment.

[@GTaylorvgg]

Ian Mcdiarmid is such an amazing actor, I love how he plays Sidious/Palpatine.

[@Arthus850]

Wait. Starkiller and the Emperor were voiced by the same guy in The Force Unleashed?

[@GenerationWest]

Yup, Sam Witwer has some range as a voice actor then I actually realized

[@StylishCreature]

him voice so nice

[@MrWafflelova]

Arthus850 He voiced Darth Maul too

[@Arthus850]

Criss Cross I already knew that, and I could picture that, since all he'd need to do is talk with a slight growl in his voice and a British accent. But thanks anyway.

[@marks2807]

Arthus850 He also was Doomsday on Smallvile.

[@JoJoSandman]

For comedy sake, Seth McFarlane.

[@KarmasAB123]

Tim Curry's a great actor, but he just sounds like himself here.

[@1978rharris]

That weird effect they did in his voice in the prequels......actually terrifying.

[@mplumley95]

From best to worst (in my opinion, of course): 1. Ian McDiarmid - Classic Emperor. The way he played the role in Return of the Jedi and Revenge of the Sith was great. 2. Ian Abercrombie - Possibly the best Chancellor Palpatine, and does a great pre-disfigured Darth Sidious. I especially liked his dialogue when he confronted Darth Maul in Season 5 of The Clone Wars: "Remember the first and only reality of the Sith: there can only be two. And you are no longer my apprentice; you have been REPLACED." Pure gold. 3. Sam Witwer - Goes back to the ROTJ-style Emperor performance, and does it pretty well. 4. Tim Curry - Not gonna lie, I'm not really feeling his Palpatine, especially compared to Abercrombie's. His Darth Sidious is pretty damn good, though. 5. Seth MacFarlane - I'm not the biggest fan of MacFarlane (I hate Family Guy), but I have to admit his Emperor was hilarious in Robot Chicken. I don't give him as much credence as the more serious voice actors, though. 6. Nick Jameson - Meh 7. Trevor Devall - Meh 8. Robert Martin Klein - Meh 9. Clive Revill - Some of you might be mad at me for putting him last since he's the original Emperor, but he does absolutely nothing for me. His portrayal is nothing AT ALL like how the character ended up in Return of the Jedi, which was a much more memorable performance.

[@KP-sx9zf]

I miss Ian Abercrombie

[@Wanderer628]

+mplumley95 Completely agree with your list.

[@KeybladeWielderXV]

Wait. I thought that episode was performed by tim curry as this was part of series 5

[@AlfonsoSRT]

Your lines on Season 5 of TCW were spoken by Tim Curry.

[@darkseid7966]

mplumley95 7 clive 8 trevor 9 robert

[@SeanKL107]

I didn't know Sam Witwer voiced the emperor in the force unleashed as well as Starkiller

[@Thirdcoastghost]

Sean Kratovil-Lavelle he also voices Darth Maul in Clone Wars and Rebels series. underrated actor and voice actor.

[@randomguy4763]

He's also the emperor in Rebels :)

[@watto9361]

No, I heard that was Jay Leno.

[@randomguy4763]

Watto www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS719US720&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=who%20voices%20the%20emperor%20in%20star%20wars%20rebels

[@keeperofthetriforce7]

he looks surprisingly similar to galen marek

[@PikminandOatchi]

How did Ians voice change so drastically between the 80's and 2000's.

[@sambridgers9543]

He got older.

[@PikminandOatchi]

@@sambridgers9543 He was already old.

[@sambridgers9543]

@@PikminandOatchi 39 isn't old.

[@tsukopara2054]

It was a stylistic choice. Ian can still do the 80s Emperor voice, he & George decided on the different direction in the Prequels to reflect Palpatine being 23 years younger, the same reason his face was made puffier. Ian did it again with Rise of Skywalker by giving Sidious more of a withered, raspy growl.

[@cd1788]

That vocal effect they put on Ian McDiarmid's voice when he says,"Henceforth! You will be known as Darth *inhale* Vader."(1:40) Gets me every time. Star Wars has the best audio.

[@CenturianEagle]

Ian's such a badass actor haha such a good palpatine/sidious. Awesome how they were able to use him for the prequel trilogy so many years later

[@Funinightmare]

Anakin: *Has Dooku's head between two lightsabers* Should I do it? Palpatine: ...Dew it!

[@VirtualVisionStudiosOfficial]

*Screw It*

[@joshuapurdy7065]

Funinightmare do the dew, Mountain Dew (wink)

[@UltronPrime]

I understood that reference

[@AnakinSkywakka]

Greetings, fellow lovely!

[@Scyclo]

Funinightmare kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIK1iGOIgpmJZs0

[@SukatoKjolen]

Trevor Devall sounds like Mark Hamill doing the Joker.

[@oscarbelmare_22]

I still am in awe that Ian McDiarmid was 37 when he filmed Return of The Jedi

[@Whoami691]

Ian McDiarmid. There is only one.

[@LexSchoones]

No, there is another...

[@sirdouglashaig967]

I swear you are everywhere!

[@Whoami691]

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel I get around.

[@oliverlmao5249]

Always two, there are

[@thewallofguns550]

+Vorger A master and a aprentice

[@joelbeauman3085]

When I heard Tim Curry all I could think of was Nigel Thornberry. Blarararagh

[@realUlfricStormcloak]

Joel Beauman NIGEL THORNBREHHHH!

[@TrueVelox]

Watto u wot m8

[@duckywinks]

"Destroying the Jedi would be absolutely smashing."

[@Astrobrant2]

Favorite? Ian McDiarmid, definitely. And not just because he was the first. 1:35 to 1:53... you just can't beat that. And he had such a wide vocal range. He could switch from tenor to a raspy baritone to a sonorous basso all in one scene. What a fantastically dynamic voice! I was surprised to see that Tim Curry did the voice. Not bad! Thanks for the upload. Edit: too bad this didn't include where we was talking to Luke. That was some of his best.

[@sacredhamburger6309]

Is Ian doing Palpatine in Rise Of Skywalker or is it somebody else playing him?

[@mawinstallation6626]

Ian McDiarmid is doing him.

[@jennikifm2]

I’m glad Ian played him. ^_^

[@chadpeterson5698]

It's Ian McDiarmid.

[@unhelpfulrevelations7989]

Why didn't they just use Sam Witner for the last TCW episodes? He was on the show as Maul anyway. Curry did a good job, but they really didn't need to bring in someone new.

[@erikmergel5222]

Victor Marinelli who is sam Winter?

[@unhelpfulrevelations7989]

voice of tcw/rebels maul, galen marek, etc

[@danno1375]

I honestly thought Tim Curry was awful as him

[@AniW2x4]

Erik Mergel it should be Sam Witwer.

[@raptor182cmn]

Tim Curry is A LEGEND within certain circles. If I were in charge of casting and someone told me Curry was available I'd jump at that chance like a Cheetah on a baby gazelle! To be fair I'm A HUGE fan of Sam Witwer as well. Honestly I don't think they could have gone wrong after the unfortunate passing of Abercrombie to go with Curry or Witwer. That's just a win/win for casting either way.

[@Jazmillenium]

Oh wow, I didn't know it was the same actor in episode 6 who did Palpatine in episode 1-3 as well. That's really cool. Hat's off to Lucas for getting him back.

[@Andrew___P]

+Waifu Rider~ Ian MacDirmond was about 30 when he did Return of the Jedi and he reprized the role when he was nearing his 60s. I actually enjoyed him more in Return of the Jedi than the prequels. He was much more arrogant and condescending, especially with that mock sympathetic tone in his voice which hides a more darker part of his personality.

[@thorhst1666]

Wow you're blind then lol

[@Andrew___P]

You're technically half right. I am half blind but don't let that stop you from discrediting me for having a fucking opinion. I've only been a fan of Star Wars all my goddamn life.

[@MrArticSwing]

+Andrew Pratt lol dude I think he was talking to the original commenter.

[@LukeSkywalker6]

Ya it was awesome how it worked out. He was young in the original trilogy and when Lucas started shooting episode 1 he was the perfect age to play The Chancellor.

[@Jokercity]

Witwer and Abercrombie are the best non-McDiarmids, hands down.

[@totheworkshed7915]

Tim Curry is fantastic, definitely doing his own thing though.

[@shaggycan]

If Disney is smart they would do a Palpatine movie before its too late. Ian is 72, if they jump on this very soon its doable. Disney needs to start thinking not about what will make us the most money right now, but what can stuff can we only do if we do it right now.

[@snakeolson2482]

if you mean Ian abercrombie then I hate to tell you but he died back in 2012 at the age of 77 unless it is McDiarmid then fair enough... two Ians

[@shaggycan]

snake olson ha no, McDiarmid. he's the only Ian for me!

[@snakeolson2482]

Fair enough I was gonna say XD

[@bruitbane2781]

I would really enjoy it if they were to make a Darth Plageus movie. Officially, the book is Legends, but the Darth Plagues character is canon per mention in Episode III RotS. I think it would be interesting to see Plagues brought to the screen with a young Palpatine, acting as a backstory to the up and coming Sith Lord who would impact the next 6+ movies. Like Rogue One, it would set the stage for Ep. 1 (and part of it would occur simultaneously with it). Also, it would be cool to see a movie set deeply in the Sith lore, and perhaps throw light onto their perspective.

[@foreignroninl1555]

Son of Thunder A lot of people, including myself, think that Tom Hiddleston would be perfect as a young Palpatine in solo movie.

[@dillonlocke9913]

Bless Ian Abercrombie! I didn't know he was dead until now.

[@GalvatronStudios]

“Join me and together we’ll build my new LEGO Death Star” - Ned Leeds

[@daboi8734]

Ian McDiarmid's voice as Palpatine is like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, it cannot be topped

[@bubbajoe117]

You know? Tim Curry didn't do half bad voicing Darth sidious, although it did throw me off when he was in his Palpatine persona. -I know they're the same- but he did great capturing the sinister voice of sidious, just a shame the previous actor had to die as he caught the more classic feel.

[@mrbummble4570]

I didn't even notice there was a different actor for him in the Clone Wars

[@cadkls]

+Samuel Smith same

[@louayattia8180]

I actually had no clue it was him until I saw this video.

[@HUNTEROFPRIME]

+bubbajoe117 Only now did I realize how much he sounded like Nigel Thornberry...

[@Jokercity]

He doesn't sound like either.

[@_MaZTeR_]

God dammit... Why did Ian Abercrombie had to die? =/ His voice was perfect for Sidious :(

[@_MaZTeR_]

***** Yeah, it is, but he's quite old already. But fingers crossed he's going to voice Palpy in SW: Rebels :D

[@_MaZTeR_]

Jimmy Greenfield Yep. I was certain Tim Curry was going to voice him, but I was surprised how Sam reprised his role as Sidious from TFU series

[@GenerationWest]

***** I was also surprised by that, then I found out Tim Curry had a stroke a while back sadly

[@MrGMoney1944]

Because the dark side takes a toll on those who resonate with it.

[@MrGMoney1944]

colebowlin68 Basically the cinema version of Macbeth.

[@giorgiobandos4021]

Fun fact: they got Ian McDiarmid to voice PalpaPig (Palpatine in a pig version) in an Angry Birds Star Wars 2 trailer.

[@TENFUCK]

Ian Abercrombie was excellent! RIP Mr Pitt.

[@DarthRushy]

Ian Abercrombie was terrific. For now, Sam Witwer is the best to voice the character. Seth MacFarlane is still absolutely hilarious as parody Palpatine, though.

[@MarvelandDC379]

Ian MicDiarmid all the way

[@usamazahid3882]

MarvelandDC379 Don't forget Tim Curry.

[@chiefkeef74]

Do It

[@ricancira]

Usama Zahid i tripped out...i didn't know frank n. furter was sidious? i'm scared.

[@ilyaastariq889]

the one original.....Ian Micdiarmid.

[@UTUBESUCK666]

Usama Zahid Tim who? Anyway, how's Ian MicDiarmid doing laterally?

[@YoungGoatPenis]

What’s the song at the end? It plays in both Ep 3 and Ep 9

[@redaxer2908]

For someone who grew up in the post prequel era I have to say Revill is very underrated with the air of mystery he brings. I like to imagine his voice being retconned to be Darth Plagueis's voice.

[@CHASEMARC]

Ian McDiarmid is the only Palpatine

[@CHASEMARC]

CHASEMARC hold on take that back Abercrombie was also a great Palpatine

[@MrGMoney1944]

I'm gonna make a plaque that says that and put it on his grave.

[@frodobaggins4396]

+CHASEMARC Palpatine: Commanda Cody! The time has come... Execute orda 69! WAIT NO! Cody: Yes my lord. takes of cloths Palpatine: noooooo... noooooooooo! NOOOOOOOOOOO!

[@Zw285]

I really like Tim Curry's. Especially for all the hooded scenes. And Sam Witwer's is perfect, and it's even funnier when he's doing scenes with himself as other characters.

[@isdrevenge8764]

6:48 If Peter and Brian had a kid

[@Yougotcaged102]

Yes, I have taken many forms But I bet I always sent chills down your spine

[@heidifedor]

Since Tim Curry's most famous role was Frank N Furter in Rocky Horror, I can't help but picture the emperor singing and dancing around in women's lingerie.

[@benjaminbyrnison4882]

Heidi Fedor now that's not something pretty to see!

[@anthonyluetmer8499]

why did you put that image in my head?

[@rambofan334]

I'm just a sweet sithvestite.

[@lai5115]

And in just 7 days he can make you a Sith!

[@bioknuckles9391]

Lai Jedi hate him!

[@holo7070]

Lai He is the most interesting Sith Lord in the galaxy

[@SB-iy9vn]

Stay evil my friends

[@dwightk.schrute6743]

Or your money back!

[@frederikferguson2571]

Who do you refer to Lai

[@logi267]

I literally had no clue clone wars palpatine was different than movie palpatine

[@Elvisbackpack]

If Sidious is in the next season of Clone Wars, I wonder who'll play him.

[@rustraids9617]

Ian mcdiarmid is the best by far

[@cannolithearcticfox4405]

Ian is the best. They even replaced the original guy from episode 5 with him in all the revamps.

[@spectraphantom9374]

If the actor’s first name is Ian, he’s bound to make a great palatine /sidious

[@briocheswag6781]

Ian McDiarmid is and forever will be the quintessential template in performing Palpatine's iconic character. However, I must say, I actually did like the way Tim Curry delivered his own version of the role in the Clone Wars. I have vivid memories as a kid of seeing Palpatine in that series and only recalling far deeper in the future that it was indeed "the theatrical master of evil." He brings a "magnificent bastard" quality to the character that Ian McDiarmid doesn't give (to which I respect because there should be nothing likable and/or attractive about him) in his performance. But strangely, it makes sense as to why he'd have it too. Especially so far earlier on in the Clone Wars/prequel trilogy era. I'll admit, I'm highly biased and believe firmly that Tim Curry shall do no wrong, but... this one is a legit idea to me. Plus, Curry isn't too flashy or attractive like he is in some of his roles. Granted, it is voice-acting and not stage/film-acting, but it's still a worthy credit in this role regardless. He adds the right kind of sinister creep factor in with almost a tantalizing tongue in his cadence that makes him a perfect mastermind. So, long story short... much like Hamill being the best VOICE-ACTING Joker, I feel that Curry once again knocks it out of the park with the subtle difference he adds to Palpatine's character that sets him as his own credible version beside Ian McDiarmid's original architecture.

[@al112v4]

It's a shame that Ian Abercrombie died, but Sam Witwer was the perfect choice for Palpie.

[@spartacussmith7070]

Wrong Ian. It was Dooku who died.

[@jutan5419]

+Spartacus Smith what???

[@spartacussmith7070]

Darth Vader It was Ian McKellen.

[@spartacussmith7070]

***** Shh they're the same fuckin person

[@spartacussmith7070]

***** He's one of those actors it's easy to get mixed up.

[@MrPjw5]

Ian McDiarmid *is* Emperor Palpatine. Ian Abercrombie is really close though. Tim Curry is a great Darth Sidious, but not a good Chancellor Palpatine. The rest of them aren't nearly as good as these three.

[@dennys.mtz21]

This comes to prove that anyone named Ian can make a convincing Sidious impression.

[@user-jc9ft1mu4s]

Ian Abercrombie , Ian Mcdiarmid , & Sam Witwer = holy trinity of Darth Sidious