"Teen Titans Go!" Star Greg Cipes on Singing, More Freedom, and Staying Young

CBR

By CBR Staff

Published Apr 21, 2016

The voice of Beast Boy tells CBR how the show has changed over the years, his favorite moments with fans and explains how he gives back.

If you don't immediately recognize actor Greg Cipes, there's a pretty good chance you know his voice. In addition to various live-action roles, he's voiced Kevin Levin on "Ben 10," Zatt on "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and Danny Rand/Iron Fist on "Ultimate Spider-Man." But you probably know him best as Beast Boy in "Teen Titans," "Young Justice," and now "Teen Titans Go!", a role he originated in 2003.

At WonderCon 2016 in Los Angeles, Cipes made his first solo visit to the world famous CBR Tiki Room to chat with Jonah Weiland about singing at conventions, the perils of performing in public (including his time in a boy band), and interacting with fans. He also talks about what's changed on "Teen Titans Go!" over the years, how he's been able to stay young all these years and his efforts to make a difference locally in both Hollywood and Venice Beach, California.

On what's changed about "Teen Titans Go!" as it heads into its fourth season:

The biggest change since Season One is the storylines are just getting crazier and crazier. The writing has definitely become tailored to what the actors have brought to it. Like even the way I create new words for Beast Boy to say and also working with the team and writing songs -- I write a lot of songs now that are ending up in the episodes which is really fun. I think the main differences is even more freedom is being allowed, which is awesome.

On one of his favorites moments connecting with "Teen Titans Go!" fans:

Recently at New York Comic Con with Cartoon Network we did a cosplay contest there and they invited me to come be one of the judges. For me I just love cosplay. I mean, personally -- judging cosplay contests, which we're doing here today, it's definitely one of my favorite things to do. One of my favorite experiences is having the kids get to express themselves and seeing how happy they get being like, "Look, I'm Beast Boy!" or "I'm Robin!", whatever it is. That brings me the most joy seeing the audience happy. Them being able to show us what they've created is the best.

On whether he's always had a youthful nature or that's something that developed as he embraced his personality later in life:

I've been allowed to be a kid my whole life. My father always kind of let me have freedom; he never pushed me to do anything, whether it be school or anything I didn't want to do, he's like, "Do what you want to do." So I started as a young actor and I got to play. I got to be in commercials and TV shows and just kind of -- I never really had to grow up. What I found out later on in life is that's the goal of life is to keep your innocence, keep your childlike wonderment about life. For the most part I look to kids to teach me and remind to be that all the time, and animals. Kids and animals allow me to be who I am.