Dulé Hill has worn many hats in his storied career—from presidential aide on The West Wing to fan-favorite private investigator on Psych, and most recently, a grounding father figure in ABC’s The Wonder Years reboot. But his latest role as the voice of Dr. Vaughn in RoboGobo, Disney’s new animated preschool series, hits closer to home—literally.
In RoboGobo, Hill plays a loving, present father and veterinarian who supports his son, Dax, a boy genius who leads a team of rescue pets turned superheroes. Recently premiered on April 1st on Disney+, the series is heartwarming, action-packed, and—most importantly—intentionally inclusive.
We sat down with Dulé for a rich and thoughtful conversation about why RoboGobo spoke to him, how fatherhood off-screen shaped his voice work, and why seeing a young Black boy centered in a story like this is long overdue.
“I really was attracted to the idea of a young protagonist who looked like me—who looked like my son,” Hill said. “A young Black boy who was a leader, who was passionate and empathetic, trying to navigate that stage of life. And the idea that he and these rescued pets would then go out and rescue others—I just love that.”
Hill, a father of two, has always been intentional about the roles he takes on, particularly those that depict Black men in nuanced and positive lights. As he reflected on the impact of RoboGobo, he acknowledged how powerful it can be—not just for children watching today, but for healing the inner child in those of us who grew up without seeing ourselves reflected on screen.
“I didn’t see myself reflected [as a kid],” Dulé shared. “And I think there’s power in seeing yourself, especially as a child, because that’s when the seeds are being planted—of dreaming and what’s possible.”
It’s a refreshing and inspiring conversation that goes beyond just promoting a project. Dulé drops gems about legacy, creativity, and representation—whether he’s talking animated rescue pets or the very real impact of Black stories being told right.
Check out the full video interview below.