April Winchell Reveals How Her Father’s Voice Acting Legacy Sparked Her Own Career

April Winchell learned the art of voice acting by growing up around legends — starting with her own father.

The daughter of famed voice actor Paul Winchell, April recently appeared on Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia, where she shared how watching her dad work inspired her own career behind the microphone.

April said her big break came when she was just 10 years old. While accompanying her father to Bell Sound Studios, she found herself walking past a hallway filled with celebrity portraits. As a kid, she quietly began imitating the voices she imagined they might have.

Unbeknownst to her, Paul Winchell’s agent was nearby and heard everything.

“He asked my dad, ‘Is your kid into this?’” April recalled. Paul’s response was simple and confident: “She’s been working since she was three — yeah, she’d be into it.”

That moment led to April auditioning for the animated series Kid Power. She practiced at home using the same tape deck she had played with since she was little, testing out voices and characters.

“I went in, I read for it, and I got it,” she said. “That’s how I got my Screen Actors Guild card. That little tape deck started my career.”

As the years went on, April became more comfortable in the voice acting world. That experience eventually led to one of her most famous roles in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

At first, she wasn’t impressed by the title.

“My agent said, ‘Do you want to read for something called Who Framed Roger Rabbit?’ and I said, ‘That sounds kind of stupid,’” April joked.

Her agent convinced her to audition anyway — this time in front of director Robert Zemeckis. During the audition, she was asked to model her voice after classic Hollywood actress Margaret Dumont, best known for her roles in Marx Brothers films.

Thanks to her father’s massive collection of old movies and recordings, April instantly knew exactly who they meant.

That knowledge earned her the role of Mrs. Herman. Soon after, she received a surprising second call.

“They asked, ‘Can you do a baby?’” April said. “I said, ‘Sure,’ and they told me to come in immediately.”

She landed the role of Baby Herman as well — becoming the very first voice heard in the film. Overwhelmed by the news, she admitted she cried at her day job after finding out.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’m the first voice you hear in the movie.”

One of the most emotional moments of April’s career came years later, after her father’s death in 2005. Paul Winchell had been estranged from his children, and April didn’t know how he truly felt about her success.

That changed when one of his friends reached out.

“Your dad used to listen to you on the radio,” the friend told her. “He was very aware of all your work. He was very proud of you.”

For April, it was a revelation she never expected — and one that meant everything.

“I had no idea,” she said.

Today, April Winchell’s story stands as a powerful reminder that talent, timing, and a little childhood curiosity can shape a remarkable career — even when appreciation is felt long after the curtain falls.