Ron Funches has a voice you’d recognize anywhere. Soft, warm, and genuinely happy-sounding—like he’s about to laugh at something funny only he knows about. That voice has brought Cooper the Troll to life, voiced King Shark in Harley Quinn, and made stand-up audiences smile for over 15 years.
But what makes people enjoy him isn’t just the voice. It’s the feeling that he’s a genuinely good person who happens to be funny, rather than a comedian trying to seem nice. That authenticity runs through everything he does.
Where He Comes From
Ronald Kyle Funches was born on March 12, 1983, in Carson, California. Carson is a working-class city in Los Angeles County, but he didn’t stay there long.
He spent his early childhood in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, living with his mother and his older sister. His mother worked as a social worker, a demanding job that meant helping families through difficult situations.
When he was 13, his life changed completely—he moved to Salem, Oregon, to live with his father, who worked as a pipefitter. Going from Chicago to Salem as a teenager must have been jarring. Different city, different parent, different everything.
That kind of childhood—split between parents in different states—shapes how you see the world. It probably contributed to his ability to find humor in uncomfortable situations.
What He Was Like Growing Up
He attended Douglas McKay High School in Salem, where he took English courses and fell in love with writing. His favorite authors included Molière, J.D. Salinger, William Faulkner, and Erich Maria Remarque. Those aren’t light reads for a teenager—they’re serious literature that explores human nature.
In interviews, he has described how he approaches comedy. He’s not doing cheap jokes or shock humor. His comedy observes people and situations, finding what’s funny about being human.
After high school, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he worked various jobs including at a bank call center and as a clerk at a Grocery Outlet store. These weren’t dream jobs—they were survival jobs that paid bills while he figured out his next step.
One job particularly stands out: he worked as a sign holder dressed as Lady Liberty for Liberty Tax Service. He later told Los Angeles Magazine: “Dancing around with that sign really took my ego away. It made me think to myself, if I can dance around with this sign then I should be able to go on stage and not be afraid of anything”.
That’s a perfect example of how he sees life—finding lessons and motivation even in embarrassing situations.
How Comedy Entered His Life
Funches began pursuing stand-up comedy at age 23 in Portland. Twenty-three is later than many comedians start—most people begin in their late teens or early twenties if they’re serious about it.
But starting later meant he had life experience to draw from. He’d worked real jobs, dealt with real struggles, and developed a perspective on what actually matters versus what just seems important when you’re young.
Portland’s comedy scene was small but supportive. He performed at open mics, gradually building confidence and figuring out what made audiences laugh. His style wasn’t aggressive or edgy—it was warm and observational, reflecting his personality.
In 2011, he got a small role on an episode of Portlandia. That one appearance convinced him he could make this work professionally. In 2012, he made the big move to Los Angeles.
Slowly Building a Career
Los Angeles is where careers either happen or die. By early 2013, he became a regular panelist on the comedy series @midnight with Chris Hardwick. That show was perfect for him—quick jokes, supportive atmosphere, and exposure to comedy fans who might not see him live.
From 2014 to 2016, he starred as Shelly on the NBC comedy series Undateable. This was his first major acting role, playing a regular character rather than just doing guest spots. The show ran for three seasons, giving him steady work and industry credibility.
According to his profile on IMDb, he started accumulating an impressive list of voice acting credits. In 2015, he performed guest voice roles on BoJack Horseman, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, and Adventure Time.
Then came the role that would make him recognizable to millions of people who’d never seen his stand-up.
Acting, Voice Work and Other Projects
In 2016, he voiced Cooper in the animated film Trolls. Cooper is an optimistic, weird little character who plays the harmonica and radiates positivity—basically Ron in Troll form.
The movie was massive. It made $347 million worldwide, earned an Oscar nomination, and became a franchise. He reprised the role in Trolls World Tour (2020) and Trolls Band Together (2023), ensuring new generations of kids would hear his voice.
Beginning in 2019, he began voicing King Shark in the DC Comics TV series Harley Quinn. King Shark is a half-shark, half-human character who’s incredibly violent but also sweet and innocent. The contrast is hilarious, and Ron’s gentle voice makes it work perfectly.
He voiced Shag Rugg on the 2021 HBO Max series Jellystone! and Rock on the 2024 Nickelodeon series Rock Paper Scissors. Voice acting has become a major part of his career because his voice is so distinctive and versatile.
He’s also written for shows. He worked as a writer for The Eric Andre Show and created the short films “Night Night with Ron Funches” for Funny or Die.
In 2021, he hosted Chopped 420 for Discovery+, a cooking competition show with a cannabis theme. And recently, he’s been competing on Season 4 of The Traitors on Peacock, showing his personality in a reality competition format.
Life Away From the Stage
When he’s not working, he lives a pretty normal life. He’s an avid video gamer and wrestling fan, having even taken classes at a wrestling school for a few months. In September 2021, he actually wrestled a match at GCW against Tony Deppen.
In August 2022, he started a wrestling podcast called “One Fall with Ron Funches”, combining two of his passions—talking and professional wrestling.
According to his website at ronfunches.com, he volunteers regularly for School on Wheels and Hilarity for Charity. He also designs sneakers for Puma/Footlocker, with all proceeds going to Next for Autism.
That charity work isn’t just for publicity—it’s connected to his personal life and the causes that matter most to him.
Family, Relationships and Fatherhood
Funches welcomed his first son, Malcolm, when he was only 20 years old. Twenty is young to become a father, especially when you’re still figuring out your own life and career.
Malcolm has autism. Ron has been incredibly open about this, using his platform to advocate for autism awareness rather than hiding or minimizing it.
He married Christina Dawn in August 2020. The marriage seemed happy initially. They welcomed a son together in 2022 (named Teddy according to some sources), but separated in October of that same year.
The separation happened just months after their son was born—a painful time for any couple. He’s been quiet about the details, respecting everyone’s privacy while continuing to co-parent.
He has two sons with a 20-year age gap between them, which means he’s experienced fatherhood at completely different life stages—as a struggling 20-year-old and as an established 40-something comedian.
Net Worth and Income
Ron Funches earns his income from multiple sources, including stand-up comedy tours, television acting, voice acting, writing, and hosting work. Over the years, voice roles in major animated projects and consistent live performances have become steady parts of his career.
His net worth is generally estimated to be in the low seven-figure range, based on publicly reported work and industry standards. Exact figures are not publicly confirmed, and Funches himself rarely speaks about money, instead focusing on creative work and personal balance.
Questions People Often Ask
What is Ron Funches known for?
He’s known primarily for voicing Cooper in the Trolls movies, King Shark in Harley Quinn, and for his warm, upbeat stand-up comedy. He’s also appeared on shows like Undateable, @midnight, and currently The Traitors.
Is he married?
He was married to Christina Dawn from August 2020 until their separation in October 2022. He’s currently single as of January 2026.
Does he have children?
Yes, he has two sons. His older son Malcolm (born when Ron was 20) has autism, which Ron advocates for openly. He has a younger son named Teddy, born in 2022 with his ex-wife Christina.
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