Photo Credit: KATZ PR
Adam McArthur belongs in the good boy category with Jack McBrayer (30 Rock Kenneth the Page). McArthur talks about his life and the characters he brings to life and a few extra details he wants everyone to know.
When you hear that McArthur is going to be showing up at a convention for his work, you can’t help but involuntarily fan girl out. While you might not know him on sight, his voice-acting chops will remind you of all the great shows he’s been a part of from Marco in Star vs the Forces of Evil to Jujutsu Kasien and a few others in between.
When Star vs. the Forces of Evil first aired, there was an air about Marco, his culture, and his love of nachos that steadfastly congealed in people’s hearts- like grease in one’s arteries after a huge slice of New York pizza. Marco was kind, generous, and wholesome, – this is no small feat when dealing with Disney and their characters. Marco puts everything on the line for Star and is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure everyone is safe. He even faces the forces of evil will start and provides karate moves whenever it’s required, which is always.
McArthur who is voicing Yuuji Itadori in the series Jujutsu Kasien and his characters couldn’t be more different, yet they feel exactly like. Itadori a hardened character has a softer side for his friends and loved ones. When he meets Itadori, he is going off to visit his dying grandpa and offers him a piece of advice, “Don’t live as I did, make friends”. This is the change Itadori needed, and it’s what turns him into the oh-so-loveable character we have now.
Adam McArthur, who currently resides in L.A., talked to Geek Vibe Nation about his loved characters, his experiences as a voice actor, and a little bit about himself: he Is a good boy and wants you to know it.

Donnie: What character has been the most exciting to play?
Adam: That is such a difficult choice. It’s like asking which child I love the most. It’s easy for me to find something exciting about all the characters I voice. I don’t know if I can answer that, haha. But If I had to choose, I would say Yuuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen. Mostly because I’ve read the manga, so I’ve read the source material. I know what’s coming for that series, and season two is coming out in 2023, and I’m just really excited to dig into the character more and go on this crazy journey of what’s going to take place in season two, so I will forcibly say, my youngest son, which is Dorian.
What character has had a lasting impression on you?
Marco Diaz from Star versus the Forces of Evil. That series was my first big series. A regular role on a Disney show, straight to television, and everything from the casting process to like being on a Disney show to the character himself was really sort of a unique experience. And yeah, he’s that whole experience, that character, all of that has left a long-lasting impression. It really set me up to love what I do even more. It was such a fun experience.
How did you hear about this role with Star vs The Forces of Evil?
It came to me like any other audition. I got sides in my email. Sides are like a little portion of the script that you read for and send back. After that, a couple of months went by. I ended up getting a call that they wanted to see me again. I think I went in two more times after that, and just kept reading every time I would go back in. There were more people in the room listening to it, haha.
So it was, you know, more intimidating as time went on, and then it culminated in my last audition, for the show was um a group read, and it was me and Eden Sheer who voice starred butterfly, and at the time she was on the middle, on ABC the sitcom that had been on for like nine seasons or something like that.
So, we were reading together, and I was like, “Oh, my gosh, my gosh! She’s famous”. I was kind of nervous, and she said, “Hey, have you done voice-over before?” And I replied, “Yeah, a lot.” Then she said, “This is my first time. I’m super nervous”. I thought that her response was so charming. haha
What was your first impression of Itadori and Marco?
I’m extremely fortunate in that I keep getting cast as really good boys. They’re both very good boys, like good teenagers, which is not really common when you’re writing about male teenagers. For some reason, like a lot of times. They’re like bratty or Brash, or they want to fight, or you know they have like these kinds of rebellious streaks. Both characters are so wholesome. Marco is a royal friend. They really do have so much in common. They’re both really loyal to their friends. Marco is totally a rider. Die for star Butterfly. He would do anything that she needed.
Yuuji is not your typical anime protagonist. He cares about his friends and his motivation for getting stronger isn’t his own desire to be the strongest, or the best, or anything like that. It’s literally because he wants his friends to have a good life and he doesn’t want to die alone.
You’re a martial artist, did that at all help you with Itadori voice acting?
I’ve been doing martial arts since I was 11 years old, so I’ve been doing it for a very long time, and it’s hard for me to separate martial artists Adam from regular Adam, haha. I do know that getting punched in the face versus punched in the stomach produces a different sound. When you get punched in the face, it’s not as guttural.
How did voice acting come to you?
I always wanted to be an actor. I started when I was sixteen, taking some acting classes in Northern California, where I grew up. Teachers had a couple of auditions and opportunities come through the school. I booked my very first audition ever, which ended up being a bunch of radio commercials for Macy’s department store, and then through that, I got an agent up there. I was doing movies and commercials all on camera as well as voice-over stuff because it’s such a small market up there. It’s really helpful to have that under your belt.
How would you describe Tom and Marco’s relationship?
They’re the classic enemies to friend trope. They have a complicated relationship, although towards the end of the show it definitely got a lot better, which I think is cool. They always had common ground. Tom just needed to calm down a little bit, which was nice when he finally did.

Have you had that moment when people recognize your voice from these shows?
There was one time at a boba shop. Somebody heard me ordering my boba, and people on social media know that I love boba.
OMG, I do also!
Yeah, I have one right next to me, haha. I got recognized once at a boba tea shop in West LA, it was a great feeling.
Is there anything you want our readers to know about you or your acting career?
I have the best job in the world. I’m getting paid to do what I used to get in trouble for in Junior High School, and I’ve somehow figured out a way to make a living doing it.
You got a large following on social media, how has that experience been for you?
I have a healthy relationship with social media. I like to post my current projects and post fun things. You’re a Star fan, so we just did a little mini-reunion. I don’t know if you saw it, but I have a link on my Instagram, but you can also check out the Streamily website.
I have to ask; do you feel that actors want to be recognized for more than their characters? Are actors vain?
It’s one hundred percent true. My friends are always tweeting things like, “I am not my character,” and “don’t address me as my character, name, and things like that.” With my social media, I am standing with my fans looking at the projects like, “what I’m doing, It’s cool, right”? I know we’re all having fun. I think it helps because I’m a fan first, and that makes all the difference. I like being with the fans, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without them.
Thanks so much for this interview, you are so much fun!

Donnie Lopez is an avid reader of fantasy and horror. He spends most of his free time watching movies, writing his graphic novel, and doing archery. You can find him stuffing his face with horrible food while complaining that it’s both awful and not enough. Find him on Twitter talking about his daily descent into madness.