Cast of Despicable Me 4: Voice Actors & Characters

Few franchises have held audiences’ attention quite like the Minions saga, and Despicable Me 4 proves the family still has plenty of surprises. Steve Carell returns as Gru, but the real draw this time around is a parade of fresh faces—Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, and Joey King among them. If you’ve ever wondered exactly who’s voicing whom in the fourth installment, you’re in the right place.

Gru voiced by: Steve Carell · Lucy voiced by: Kristen Wiig · Minions voiced by: Pierre Coffin · Villain Maxime by: Will Ferrell · Valentina voiced by: Sofía Vergara

The following table summarizes the primary cast roles and their respective voice actors.

Cast of Despicable Me 4 characters

The heart of any Despicable Me film lies in its voice cast, and Despicable Me 4 brings back the franchise’s most recognizable talent alongside a handful of newcomers who inject fresh energy into the story.

Main returning voices

Steve Carell has portrayed Gru since the franchise’s inception in 2010, and his commitment to the role shows no signs of wavering. According to Voices.com (industry voice acting authority), Carell’s tenure with the franchise spans all four main films—a consistency that has anchored the series’ emotional core. As a former supervillain turned Anti-Villain League agent, Gru remains the unlikely family man audiences have grown to love.

Carell’s ability to ground even the most absurd material in emotional truth has made Gru one of animation’s most enduring characters.

Kristen Wiig returns as Lucy Wilde, Gru’s wife and fellow Anti-Villain League agent. Voices.com notes Wiig’s Saturday Night Live roots bring a comedic sharpness to Lucy’s character, a quality that has made her a standout in the franchise.

Miranda Cosgrove voices Margo, the eldest of Gru and Lucy’s three adopted daughters. YouTube (voice actor reveal compilation) notes Cosgrove is best known for starring in the Nickelodeon series iCarly, bringing teenage authenticity to Margo’s coming-of-age moments within the family dynamic.

Dana Gaier has voiced Edith—the middle daughter—since the original Despicable Me film. Voices.com confirms this makes Gaier one of the longest-serving cast members in the franchise. Her portrayal has evolved alongside the character as Edith has grown from a small child into a more independent personality.

Madison Polan takes on the role of Agnes, the youngest daughter. Wikipedia documents that Polan replaced Nev Scharrel, who in turn had replaced Elsie Fisher—marking the third actress to voice Agnes across the franchise’s run.

Minions and family

Pierre Coffin continues as the voice of the Minions, the franchise’s chaotic ensemble of yellow creatures. TV Guide (entertainment listings authority) confirms Coffin’s involvement, noting his unique ability to deliver the Minions’ signature gibberish with comedic timing that has become synonymous with the characters.

Tara Strong voices Gru Jr., Gru and Lucy’s son. Wikipedia documents Strong’s casting—a significant addition given her reputation as one of the most prolific voice actors in animation, known for roles in Roughriders, The Powerpuff Girls, and Rugrats.

Steve Coogan reprises his role as Silas Ramsbottom, the previously retired director of the Anti-Villain League. YouTube (voice actor reveal compilation) notes the British comedian has played Ramsbottom in all previous Despicable Me films, making him another franchise veteran returning for the fourth installment.

Laraine Newman voices Melora, a salon customer whose hair was accidentally burned by Lucy and seeks revenge. Voices.com highlights Newman’s credentials as an original Saturday Night Live cast member and prolific voice actor, including work on The Adventures of Puss in Boots.

Cast of Despicable Me 4 villain

Every great Gru story needs a formidable adversary, and Despicable Me 4 delivers its most distinctive villain yet.

Maxime Le Mal details

Will Ferrell voices Maxime Le Mal, described in Wikipedia as a French-accented, cockroach-themed supervillain and Gru’s high school rival. This backstory adds personal stakes to the conflict, transforming the villain from a generic threat into a character with history—and grudges—with the protagonist.

Ferrell represents a fresh face in the franchise. Voices.com notes the Anchorman star is a newcomer to the Despicable Me universe in this installment, bringing his signature comedic intensity to the role.

Will Ferrell’s villainous energy has always been larger than life, and Maxime Le Mal gives him the perfect outlet—a character who looks down on everyone while literally buzzing with malintent.

The cockroach theme provides both visual gags and thematic resonance. As an insect-themed villain, Maxime Le Mal brings an earthy, persistent quality to his villainy that contrasts with Gru’s more refined approach.

Cast of Despicable Me 4 Valentina

Valentina brings star power and comedic flair to the antagonist’s inner circle.

Character role

Sofía Vergara voices Valentina, Maxime Le Mal’s femme fatale girlfriend. Wikipedia establishes her position as the love interest and controlling force behind Maxime Le Mal’s schemes—suggesting she’s far from a passive sidekick.

Vergara’s casting brings mainstream television recognition to the franchise. Voices.com highlights her roles in Modern Family and the Netflix limited series Griselda, noting her ability to command scenes with both comedic timing and dramatic intensity.

The femme fatale archetype, combined with Vergara’s persona, suggests Valentina may be the true brains behind Maxime Le Mal’s operation—a theory the film reportedly explores as the plot unfolds.

The implication: Vergara’s casting signals a deliberate move to broaden the franchise’s mainstream appeal while adding genuine comedic firepower to the antagonist’s arc.

Cast of Despicable Me 4 Sensei

Sensei O’Sullivan brings martial arts chaos to the family-friendly proceedings.

Voice actor

Brad Ableson voices Sensei O’Sullivan, Agnes and Edith’s karate teacher. Wikipedia documents this addition to the cast, positioning Sensei O’Sullivan as a mentor figure to the younger members of Gru’s family.

While Ableson’s role is primarily supporting, his presence suggests the film explores the family dynamics beyond Gru’s direct circle, giving secondary characters their own storylines.

Cast of Despicable Me 4 Poppy

Poppy Prescott represents the film’s most significant new character introduction among the human cast.

Supporting role

Joey King voices Poppy Prescott, an aspiring supervillainess and admirer of Gru. Wikipedia establishes Poppy’s motivation—she idolizes the former supervillain, creating an unusual dynamic where a young character seeks to learn from someone who has already reformed.

King’s casting brings contemporary film appeal to the franchise. Voices.com notes her credits in The Kissing Booth franchise and the Hulu limited series The Act, highlighting her range as a performer capable of both comedy and dramatic work.

Stephen Colbert voices Perry Prescott, Poppy’s father and Gru’s new neighbor. Wikipedia documents this casting, positioning Perry Prescott as a character whose relationship with Gru defines the film’s domestic stakes.

Chloe Fineman voices Patsy Prescott, Poppy’s mother. Voices.com identifies Fineman as a current Saturday Night Live cast member, noting her sketch comedy background adds to the franchise’s tradition of SNL talent.

What this means: The Prescott family dynamic adds domestic stakes to the narrative, allowing Gru’s character growth to play out against the backdrop of neighborhood tensions.

Saturday Night Live legacy

The Despicable Me franchise has long drawn from the SNL talent pool, and Despicable Me 4 continues this tradition.

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Chloe Fineman all have SNL connections, creating a throughline of sketch comedy sensibility that influences the franchise’s comedic DNA. Voices.com notes this legacy, observing how SNL performers bring an improvisational energy to their voice work that distinguishes the franchise from other animated properties.

Laraine Newman, an original SNL cast member from the 1970s, joins this lineage, representing both the franchise’s continuity and its willingness to embrace performers across generations of comedy.

The catch: While SNL credentials add prestige, the franchise’s comedy ultimately succeeds on timing and character chemistry rather than star power alone.

Cameo appearances

The franchise rewards attentive viewers with return appearances by past antagonists.

Jason Segel reprises his role as Vector through archive audio in cameo appearances at the end of the film. Wikipedia documents this inclusion, noting the cameos function as Easter eggs for franchise devotees rather than substantial plot contributions.

Benjamin Bratt and Trey Parker similarly return as El Macho and Balthazar Bratt through archive audio, respectively. Wikipedia confirms these appearances, completing a tour through the franchise’s villainous history.

The cameo strategy suggests the filmmakers view the fourth installment as a celebratory moment—acknowledging what came before while focusing primarily on new stories and characters.

Comedy backgrounds

The cast’s diverse comedy roots create a rich tapestry of performance styles.

Will Ferrell and Steve Carell represent mainstream Hollywood comedy—performers who have headlined billion-dollar films and defined their generation’s comedic sensibility. Their collision in Despicable Me 4 brings prestige-level star power to an animated property.

Stephen Colbert and Joey King offer different comedy backgrounds—Colbert from late-night political satire and King from teen rom-coms and psychological drama. This diversity ensures the film can shift between comedic registers as the story requires.

The Despicable Me franchise has always been about ensemble comedy, and the casting choices reflect a deliberate strategy: bring together performers whose styles complement rather than compete.

New versus returning cast

The balance between familiar faces and fresh talent defines the film’s approach to its ensemble.

Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Gaier, and Miranda Cosgrove represent the franchise’s continuity—they carry the emotional weight that makes audiences care about Gru’s family. Their presence ensures Despicable Me 4 feels connected to what came before.

Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Joey King, and Stephen Colbert represent the franchise’s expansion strategy—bringing in performers who may attract new audiences while providing opportunities for creative growth.

Romesh Ranganathan’s casting as Dr. Nefario represents a middle ground: a new performer in an established role, offering fans something familiar with something new.

The pattern: Franchise longevity depends on balancing nostalgia with novelty—the current cast strategy suggests this balance is achievable without compromising either priority.

Directorial context

Chris Renaud directed Despicable Me 4, continuing his franchise association that began with co-directing the original film.

Wikipedia confirms Renaud’s involvement, positioning him as the franchise’s primary creative steward. His understanding of the franchise’s voice and comedic sensibilities shapes how the ensemble cast performs their material.

Renaud also voices Principal Übelschlecht in the film, joining the voice ensemble from behind the camera—a common practice in animation that allows directors to participate directly in the creative process.

The continuity in leadership ensures the new cast members integrate smoothly into the franchise’s established tone and style.

The franchise’s voice acting legacy

Despicable Me 4 represents the franchise at its most ambitious in terms of casting scope.

Steve Carell’s twenty-year tenure as Gru anchors the franchise’s emotional continuity. His performance has evolved alongside the character—from pure villainy to reluctant heroism to committed family life—and Despicable Me 4 benefits from this accumulated investment.

Dana Gaier’s similarly long association with Edith represents franchise reliability, while Will Ferrell’s debut as Maxime Le Mal introduces a villainous energy the series hasn’t previously explored.

The combination of veteran performers and fresh talent creates dynamic tension throughout the film—returning characters operate with established chemistry while new additions bring unpredictable energy.

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The returning stars like Steve Carell’s Gru join fresh talents such as Will Ferrell’s Maxime Le Mal in this full cast breakdownfull cast breakdown.

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