Ben Pronsky, descendant of Houston founders, brings big dad energy to Nickelodeon's 'Wylde Pak'
Ben Prosnky voices William Wylde in the Nickelodeon series 'The Wylde Pak'. (courtesy)
Ben Pronsky is a voiceover actor known for roles in the animated "Marvel's Spider-Man," the video games "Fortnite" and "Genshin Impact," and several anime series. Almost every day, someone asks him to perform a voice on the spot.
"I just recorded a voice memo the other day as Kermit the Frog for somebody," he says. "It's like if you tell somebody that you're a comedian, they ask you to tell a joke. I just think it's funny because when somebody says, I'm a CPA, you don't ask them, can you do my taxes?"
Pronsky, who grew up in Houston, can now be heard in "Wylde Pak," a new animated series airing Friday nights on Nickelodeon. He voices Will Wylde, harried father to two-half siblings who must learn to coexist as part of a Korean-American family while helping run a pet grooming business. Pronsky himself has two sons, ages 4 and 7, who he refers to as in-home "focus group" for his gigs.
After taking on so many fantastical roles, Will Wylde is a chance for Pronsky to tap directly into his own life.
"I feel like he's the epitome of keeping it together," Pronsky says of the character. "He's running a small business, and Jack comes into his life and is sort of thrust onto the doorstep for the summertime. It calls for the necessity to improvise with the situation, but to also make sure that the family feels like they're being kept together. It was easy to pull from because that's exactly what my life feels like."
'Wylde Pak'
Rated: TV-Y7
Where: 6:30 p.m. Fridays on Nickelodeon
Pronsky was born in Dallas, but his family moved to Houston soon after he was born. He is a direct descendant of Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen, founders of Houston. His grandmother is Sadie Gwin Blackburn, known throughout the city for her decades-long leadership in historic preservation and environmental advocacy.
Pronsky performed locally as part of a children's theater troupe and attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. After graduating, he returned to Houston and began pursuing on-camera and voiceover work. His first job was at the Houston-based ADV Films in an anime called "Saiyuki." He moved to Los Angeles in 2004 but still has vivid memories of home.
'Wylde Pak' focuses on a newly formed Korean American family in the fictional town of Canyon Valley. (Nickelodeon)
"I worked at just about every restaurant along 1960 by Willowbrook Mall there. I worked at that Olive Garden, I worked at that Pappasitos, I worked at that Starbucks, one of the first that had a drive-thru," Pronsky recalls.
He eventually worked up to bigger voiceover roles in several anime series, including Takashi Kamiyama from "Cromartie High School" and Harklight from "Aldnoah.Zero." Pronsky has also lent his voice to several video games, including "Fortnite" and "Final Fantasy."
Houston native Ben Pronksy has voiced characters for 'Batman', 'Fortnite' and 'Spider-Man'. (courtesy)
"Wylde Pak," however, is more than just another gig. It's a chance for Pronsky to contribute to a narrative that he believes offers a point of connection in an often-fractured world.
"With the temperature of the country right now, I think the necessity for escapism is such an important thing. And to be able to do it even for an older demographic of parents who could potentially relate to some of the shenanigans that we're going through, that escapism is a great way to make sure that you're still feeling connected, by and large," Pronsky says. "It's not just a kid show because it's a cartoon. What the kids are experiencing is hardship and coming together to try to understand each other's perspective. And Will in particular is just trying to keep it all together."
