David Seville Explained

Series:Alvin and the Chipmunks
David Seville
Species:Human
Gender:Male
Portrayer:Jason Lee
Voice:Ross Bagdasarian (1958–72)
Ross Bagdasarian Jr. (1979–present)
Creator:Ross Bagdasarian
Occupation:Record producer, band manager, songwriter
Family:Toby Seville (nephew)
Relatives:Jackie Seville (aunt)
Nationality:American
Lbl31:Official website

David "Dave" Seville is a fictional character, the adoptive father and producer and manager of the fictional singing group Alvin and the Chipmunks. The character was created by Ross Bagdasarian, who had used the name "David Seville" as his stage name prior to the creation of the Chipmunks, while writing and recording novelty records in the 1950s.[1] One of the records, recorded in 1958 under the David Seville stage name, was "Witch Doctor", featuring a sped-up high-pitched vocal technique. Bagdasarian would later use that technique in "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)", which would introduce both Alvin and the Chipmunks as a singing group and Bagdasarian's music producer "Dave". Bagdasarian would go on to create The Alvin Show, based on the Alvin and the Chipmunks group, where he voiced the semi-fictional character David Seville,[2] based largely on himself, with Alvin based on Ross's sometimes rebellious son Adam.[1]

Ross Bagdasarian Jr. took over ownership Bagdasarian Productions when his father died in 1972. He reprised the David Seville character, first in a series of novelty albums beginning with 1980's Chipmunk Punk.[3] Bagdasarian Jr. subsequently assumed the role on the TV series Alvin and the Chipmunks, which ran in original episodes from 1983–1990. Bagdasarian Jr. has voiced David Seville in all official animated and recorded incarnations of David Seville since taking over for his father in the 1970s, including TV series, animated specials, and direct-to-video productions. He most recently voiced the character in the 2015 TV show version of the Alvin and the Chipmunks television series.

Actor Jason Lee also portrays David Seville in the live-action films, Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007), (2009), (2011) and (2015) which use a combination of live-action acting and computer animation.[4] While Ross Bagdasarian Jr. does not do any voices for the film series, the films are all produced in association with Bagdasarian Productions, which owns the rights to all of the characters.

Portrayed by

Portrayed by TV Series Film Series Air Date Year Notes
The Alvin Show rowspan="3" 1961–1962 1958–1972 Creator
Alvin and the Chipmunks 1983–1990 1979–present Producer and voice
ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks 2015–present
2007–2015 live action/CGI films

Filmography

Films

See main article: Alvin and the Chipmunks in film.

Year Title Role Portrayed By Production Producer
1987 The Chipmunk Adventure Main Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
1999 Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein Kathi Castillo
2000 Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman
2003 Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
2007 Alvin and the Chipmunks Janice Karman
Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
2009
2011
2015

Television

Year Title Role Voice by Notes
1961–1962 The Alvin Show Main October 1961
1983–1990 Alvin and the Chipmunks Original Series
2015–2023 ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks Started August 2015

Notes and References

  1. News: Blevins . Joe . The Dark, Angry Father of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' . . November 10, 2015 . October 3, 2018.
  2. News: Beck . Jerry . "The Alvin Show" Coming to Blu-Ray . . January 14, 2015 . October 3, 2018.
  3. News: Rayl . Salley; Bell, Bonnie . Chipmunk Punk? Yep, Those Amazing Animals—Alvin, Simon & Theodore—have Chirped Back Onto the Charts . . October 20, 1980 . October 3, 2018.
  4. News: Radish . Christina . Jason Lee ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED Interview . . December 13, 2011 . October 3, 2018.