Ernest Sabella (born September 19, 1949) is an American actor, who is best known for his role as the voice of Pumbaa from The Lion King franchise voicing the character in all media except the 2019 and 2024 films. He is also recognized for his work in Broadway theatre, including starring roles in Guys and Dolls and Man of La Mancha.

Filmography

• 2021Show of Titles — "Man of La Mancha" Performer
• 2016Bakery in Brooklyn — Dave
• The Lion Guard — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2016The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2013Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart Honest and Real! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2013Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart on the Go! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2012Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart Online! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2010Listen to Your Heart — Tony
• The Good Wife — Murray
• 2009Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart Goes Green! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2009Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart in the Water! — Pumbaa (voice)
• Wild About Safety with Timon & Pumbaa — Pumbaa
• 2008Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart Healthy & Fit! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2008Wild About Safety: Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart at Home! — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2004Behind the Legend: Timon — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2004Broadway's Lost Treasures II — Harry The Horse (segment "Guys & Dolls")
• 2004The Lion King 1½ — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2004Timon & Pumbaa Virtual Safari 2.0 — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2004Timon & Pumbaa's Virtual Safari 1.5 — Pumbaa (voice)
• That's So Raven — Mr. Petracelli
• 2003Timon & Pumba's Virtual Safari — Pumbaa (voice)
• Disney's House of Mouse — Pumbaa (voice)
• 2001Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse — Pumbaa (voice)
• Ed — Gary Swirdlock
• Providence — Lou Keppler
• 1999The Out-of-Towners — Getaway Driver
• Encore! Encore! — Leo Wodecki
• 1998The Lion King II: Simba's Pride — Pumbaa (voice)
• 1997In & Out — Aldo Hooper
• 1997MouseHunt — Maury
• 1997On Holiday With Timon & Pumbaa — Pumbaa (Voice)
• The Practice — Harland Bassett
• 1996Around the World With Timon & Pumbaa — Pumbaa (Voice)
• 1996Dining Out with Timon & Pumbaa — Pumbaa (Voice)
• 1995Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable — Pumba
• 1995Roommates — Stash
• 1995Stand By Me — Pumbaa (voice)
• Timon and Pumbaa — Pumbaa (voice)
• 1994Quiz Show — Car Salesman
• 1994The Lion King — Pumbaa (voice)
• 1992Just My Imagination — Arnold Mayer
• Mad About You — Maurice
• 1991Going Under — The Mole
• 1990Faith — Stanley
• A Fine Romance — George Shipman
• Coach — Ernie
• Quantum Leap — Manny / Sancho Panza
• Saved by the Bell — Leon Carosi
• Seinfeld — Naked Man
• 1988Fright Night Part 2 — Dr. Scott Harrison
• Murphy Brown — Julian
• A Different World — Campus Policeman
• Married... with Children — Mr. Pond
• Roxie — Vito Carteri
• She's the Sheriff — Dickie Dinsmore
• Perfect Strangers — Donald Twinkacetti
• Sledge Hammer! — Al Fresco
• 1986Tough Guys — Hotel Clerk
• 1985Copacabana — Sam Gropper
• 1984City Heat — Ballistics Expert
• Hunter — Earnie
• It's Your Move — Lou Donatelli
• Punky Brewster
• Hardcastle and McCormick — Clyde Whitley
• Cagney & Lacey
• Cheers — Stan
• Newhart — Police Officer, Ed Halstead
• St. Elsewhere — Patient
• The New Odd Couple — Policeman
• Hill Street Blues — Paulie
• 1980Little Johnny Jones — Sing Song
• 1980The Robber Bridegroom — Big Harp
• Broadway on Showtime — Big Harp
• Knots Landing — Frank Edmunds
• The Facts of Life
• Diff'rent Strokes
• Alice

Appearances as themselves (7)

• 2025The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl — Self
• 2010Waking Sleeping Beauty — Self (archive footage)
• 1997A Magical Walt Disney World Christmas — Self
• 1996Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade — Self
• 1992Guys and Dolls: Off the Record — Himself / Harry the Horse
• Saturday Night Live — Self (uncredited)
• The Oscars — Self