Tony Hale Leaves Forky Voicemails for Friends’ Children, and Now We Want One Too

Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for New York Magazine

No animated character captured our hearts this year quite like Forky, the sweet, anxiety-riddled new toy in Toy Story 4. This weekend at Vulture Fest, the voice of Forky, Tony Hale (previously seen at the side of Julia Louis-Dreyfus whenever possible on Veep), talked with Pixar’s Claudio de Oliveira about taking on the role — and its rapturous reception. Among other things, Hale revealed that he calls friends’ kids in character as Forky. “If their kids are Forky fans, I’ll send them a voicemail,� Hale said. “Like, ‘Hey Jonathan, this is Forky. I just wanted to say hi. I hope we get to meet.’ And then I’ll be like, ‘Have you seen a trash can around here? I can’t find one, so if you see one, let me know.’� Of course, the kids love it. “My friends will videotape them getting the voicemail and they’re just like, ‘I’m sorry, Forky gave me a call?’� Hale said. “I love that stuff.�

Hale and de Oliveira also discussed the myriad Forky costumes they saw a few weeks ago on Halloween. “They are a sight,� Hale said. “They are usually terrifying,� de Oliveira added. (A quick Google search has scarred this writer.) Despite that, Hale enjoyed answering his door to Forkys this year. “When I was handing out candy, some kids came up as Forky and it was so dear,� he told de Oliveira. Now all Pixar needs to is give us the Forky–Duke Caboom buddy comedy we deserve!