Ernest Sabella (born September 19, 1949) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Pumbaa from The Lion King franchise, voicing the character in all media except the 2019 and 2024 films. Sabella's TV roles include Mr. Donald "Twinkie" Twinkacetti in Perfect Strangers (1986–1987), George Shipman in A Fine Romance (1989), and Leon Carosi in Saved by the Bell (1991). His work in Broadway theatre includes starring roles in Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Curtains, and Man of La Mancha.
Early life and education Born in Westchester County, New York, Sabella graduated from the University of Miami, where he studied at the Department of Theatre Arts and performed at the university's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.
Career His stage credits include The Robber Bridegroom (1976), Little Johnny Jones (1982), Guys and Dolls (1992) as Harry the Horse, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996), Chicago as Amos Hart (replacement), Man of La Mancha (2002, as Sancho Panza) and Sweet Charity (2005).Sabella Broadway" ibdb.com, retrieved February 15, 2018
Film credits include Quiz Show (1994) as the car salesman, In & Out (1997) as Aldo Hooper, Disney's The Lion King (1994) and multiple sequels and spin-offs as Pumbaa. He also has worked with Nathan Lane, who had voiced Timon, in Guys and Dolls, Mouse Hunt, The Producers (in a deleted scene) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In the latter production, Sabella portrayed Marcus Lycus while Lane played Pseudolus. Sabella also joined Lane for his Saturday Night Live monologue, where they sang "Hakuna Matata".
On television, Sabella portrayed apartment manager Lou Donatelli in the Jason Bateman comedy It's Your Move (1984–1985). He appeared in an episode of Cheers titled "Love Thy Neighbor" (Season Four Episode Eight air date November 21, 1985) in which he played the role of a private investigator named Santo Carbone, who was Carla Tortelli's cousin. He played store owner and landlord Donald Twinkacetti on Perfect Strangers (1986–1987). He played Leo in the short-lived sitcom Encore! Encore! starring Nathan Lane (2000). Sabella had a five-episode stint on Saved by the Bell in 1991 as Leon Carosi, an uptight resort manager and owner who employed the main cast's characters. Leah Remini was featured as his daughter. His other recurring roles include the lazy teacher Mr. Petrachelli on That's So Raven (2003), the floundering attorney Harland Bassett on The Practice (2000–2001), and characters on Newhart (1983).
In the Quantum Leap episode "Catch a Falling Star", he played the dual role of Manny, a stage actor, and Sancho Panza, Manny's character in a touring production of Man of La Mancha. Sabella had a brief appearance as a naked man on a subway train in a 1992 episode of Seinfeld titled "The Subway".
He starred in a series of television commercials for NyQuil cold medicine in 1994 and was seen in a MasterCard commercial (2007), as well as Lynx in 2008.
Sabella co-starred as Sidney Bernstein in the Broadway musical comedy Curtains, which opened officially on March 22, 2007, and ran until June 29, 2008.
He played the role of apartment building superintendent Leon in the 9th episode "Hold Outs" of the 6th season (2015) of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods."Ernie Sabella Credits" tvguide.com, retrieved February 15, 2018
In 2015, Sabella reprised his voice role as Pumbaa in the TV pilot film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar. He later became a recurring cast member in the full series, The Lion Guard.Lion Guard ew.com
Personal life Sabella met his wife Cheryl near the backstage door following a Broadway performance of Guys & Dolls in 1994; they married in 1999.Gladstone, Douglas. "Remember The Naked Subway Rider In Seinfeld? Meet Ernie Sabella" Westchester Magazine, June 2014"A real character: Actor Ernie Sabella sets up shop in Southern Nevada" Las Vegas Sun, January 17, 2002 His wife works as a computer programmer in their hometown.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 City Heat Ballistics Expert 1986 Tough Guys Hotel Clerk 1988 Fright Night Part 2 Dr. Harrison 1990 Faith Stanley Going Under The Mole 1994 The Lion King Pumbaa Voice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Quiz Show Car Salesman 1995 Roommates Stash 1996 Around the World with Timon & Pumbaa Pumbaa Voice, direct-to-video 1997 In & Out Aldo Hopper Mouse Hunt Maury, the Cat Care Society Owner 1998 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Pumbaa Voice, direct-to-video 1999 The Out-of-Towners Getaway Driver 2001 Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse Pumbaa Voice, direct-to-video 2004 The Lion King 1½ 2010 Listen to Your Heart Tony 2015 The Challenger Frankie 2016 Bakery in Brooklyn Dave
Television Year Title Role Notes 1980 Broadway on Showtime Sing Song, Big Harp 2 episodes 1982 St. Elsewhere Patient Episode: "Pilot" 1982–1984 Cagney & Lacey Cabbie 2 episodes 1983 The New Odd Couple Policeman Episode: "My Strife in Court" 13 Thirteenth Avenue Vlastock Spoltechzep Television film Newhart Ed Halstead, Police Officer 3 episodes 1983–1984 Knots Landing Frank Edmunds 2 episodes 1983–1987 Hill Street Blues Pauli, Paulie Shellcop, Paulie 4 episodes 1984 Alice Franklin Episode: "Vera, the Horse Thief" Oh Madeline Phelps Episode: "Monday Night Madeline" The Facts of Life Husband Episode: "All by Herself" The New Mike Hammer Salvatore Juno 2 episodes Domestic Life Ralph Pomeroy Episode: "Showdown at Walla Walla" 100 Centre Street Harry Pike Television film Punky Brewster Elroy Kramer Episode: "Parents Night" 1984–1985 It's Your Move Lou Donatelli 18 episodes 1985 Diff'rent Strokes Ben Episode: "Sam's Missing" Hardcastle and McCormick Clyde Whitley Episode: "Strange Hold" Cheers Santo Carbone, Stan 2 episodes Copacabana Sam Gropper Television film 1986 It's a Living Walter Cliff Episode: "Gander Gap" Benson Bo Episode: "Parade Rest" 1986–1987 Perfect Strangers Mr. Donald 'Twinkie' Twinkacetti 22 episodes 1987 Roxie Vito Carteri 6 episodes Married... with Children Mr. Pond Episode: "Peggy Sue Got Work" Hunter Earnie Episode: "Turning Point" 1988 Sledge Hammer! Al Fresco Episode: "The Secret of My Excess" Mr. Belvedere Mr. Plumer Episode: "Roommates" 1989 A Fine Romance George Shipman 13 episodes Open House Episode: "Murder, He Wrote" My Two Dads Officer Ringer Episode: "Dad Patrol" Quantum Leap Manny, Sancho Panza Episode: "Catch a Falling Star - May 21, 1979" 1990 Coach Ernie Episode: "Men Don't Heal" 1990–1991 Good Grief Tyrone, Flipper 2 episodes 1991 Babes Mo Episode: "The Last Temptation of Marlene" Murphy Brown Julian Episode: "Small" Saved by the Bell Leon Carosi 6 episodes Major Dad Phil Episode: "Lady in Waiting" 1992 Seinfeld Naked Man Episode: "The Subway" A Different World Campus Security Episode: "The Cat's in the Cradle" Davis Rules Coach Episode: "Strike Down the Band" Dangerous Curves Jack Kilty Episode: "Die Laughing" Just My Imagination Arnold Mayer Television film 1994 Mad About You Maurice Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" 1995 Pins and Needles Marvin Television film Blame It on Ernie Unknown role Unknown episodes 1995–1999 Timon & Pumbaa Pumbaa, Bampuu, Gopher Voice, main role 1997 Disney's One Saturday Morning Pumbaa Voice 1998–1999 Encore! Encore! Leo 5 episodes 1999–2001 The Practice Harland Bassett 4 episodes 1999 Malcolm & Eddie Mort Diamond Episode: "The Tapawingo Witch Project" Annie Mr. Bundles Television film 2000 Find Out Why Pumbaa Voice, 8 episodes Providence Lou Keppler 3 episodes 2001 Ed Gary Swirdlock Episode: "Hook, Line and Sinker" 2001–2002 House of Mouse Pumbaa Voice, 14 episodes 2003 That's So Raven Mr. Petrachelli 2 episodes 2015 Blue Bloods Leon Episode: "Holds Out" The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Pumbaa Voice, television film 2016–2019 The Lion Guard Voice, 10 episodes
Video games Year Title Role 1995 Animated Storybook: The Lion King Pumbaa Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Pinball The Lion King: Activity Center Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games1998Disney's Adventures in Typing with Timon and Pumbaa The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Active Play 2000 The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure 2003 Timon & Pumbaa Virtual Safari 2004 Who Wants to be King of the Jungle 2005 Kingdom Hearts II 2007 Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix 2024 Disney Dreamlight Valley
Theme park attractions Year Title Role 1995–2018 Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable Pumbaa 2008–2013 Wild About Safety
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1976–1977 The Robber Bridegroom Big Harp, Little Harp Broadway 1982 Little Johnny Jones Whitney Wilson Tour 1983 Merrily We Roll Along Joseph Josephson Dupree Studio Theatre 1990 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Pseudolus La Jolla Playhouse & Segerstrom Center for the Arts 1992 Guys and Dolls Harry the Horse Broadway 1994 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Twimble / Wally Womper La Jolla Playhouse 1996 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Marcus Lycus Broadway 1997 Chicago Amos Hart Broadway & Tour Replacement 2002 Man of La Mancha Sancho Panza Broadway 2004–2005 Sweet Charity Herman Broadway 2007–2008 Curtains Sidney Bernstein Broadway
Awards and nominations 1996 - Daytime Emmy Award - Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program - Nominated 2005 - DVDX Award for Best Animated Character Performance (Voice and Animation in a DVD Premiere Movie) - Nominated
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