Ernest "Ernie" Sabella is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian. He is best known for his Disney role as the voice of Pumbaa in The Lion King franchise, along with Baampu. He also portrayed Mr. Bundles in Annie, a car salesman in Quiz Show, Stash in Roommates, and Mr. Petracelli in the That's So Raven episodes "Mother Dearest" and "Escape Claus".
Born in Westchester County, New York, Sabella graduated from the University of Miami, where he studied at the Department of Theatre Arts and performed at the university's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.
Outside of Disney, Sabella is well-known for his television roles, such as Mr. Donald "Twinkie" Twinkacetti in Perfect Strangers (1986–1987), George Shipman in A Fine Romance, and Leon Carosi in the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell. He also had starring roles in Broadway musicals, including The Robber Bridegroom, Little Johnny Jones, Guys and Dolls (as Harry the Horse), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Chicago (as Amos Hart; replacement), Man of La Mancha (as Sancho Panza), and Sweet Charity.
Roles[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Sabella is the only actor of the original Lion King franchise to reprise his role as Pumbaa for the Disney Junior spin-off series The Lion Guard (though James Earl Jones did reprise Mufasa in the pilot movie The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar).
- Sabella was originally set to make a cameo in the 2005 adaption of The Producers, alongside his Lion King co-stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, but his scenes were cut in the final product. Fortunately, Sabella's scenes can still be found in the deleted scenes on the DVD.
- In Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure, Sabella did not reprise his role as Pumbaa, so he was replaced by Leslie Hedger.