‘Rick and Morty’s Scott Chernoff on What Gets Gearhead’s Gears Turning

Do you want to hear about the Gear Wars? 

Of course not, nobody does. Yet Rick’s most boring friend on Rick and Morty can’t help but talk about them. Whereas Rick’s stoic pal Birdperson is always ready for an adventure and Mr. Poopybutthole’s trainwreck of a life never ceases to be interesting, Gearhead’s presence is usually a drag, and that’s precisely what the Rick and Morty fanbase loves about him. 

Nonetheless, I recently caught up with his voice actor, Scott Chernoff, to talk about all things Gearhead — yes, even the Gear Wars. Despite Gearhead’s reputation, I promise that our conversation was far from boring.

How did you end up playing Gearhead?

I worked a lot with Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland in the past. They met at Channel 101, this video festival that we all used to do, and we just started working together. Then Rick and Morty started, and Dan called me in to do some voices. I did some random characters in one or two episodes, and then I was cast as Gearhead. There was something about me that made them think of me for Gearhead, and I’ll have to leave that up to the fans to decide why that was.

Did anything inform the way you voiced him the first time?

I remember asking, “Should I do a robot kind of voice?” because they showed me a picture of him. They were like, “No, we want you to be you.” The other voices I’ve done on the show, there are some where I watched the episode back and I couldn’t even figure out who I was because I had changed my voice so much, but this one was just me.

I knew right away that this was a really cool, special character in my mind. I’m a big Star Wars guy, and — I think this is elevating me and the character quite a bit — but I feel like when they first brought out the costume for Boba Fett. He was just one of these four or five bounty hunters standing on a platform, but there was clearly something special about that character. Gearhead is no Boba Fett, but there’s a similarity where you just look at the character and you want to know more about him.

And then, of course, Gearhead got to party with Hugh Jackman.

I assume you didn’t get to record with him?

No. I mean, that’s the thing about doing animation. There are so many great people that I’ve worked with, but mostly I get to see our names together in the credits. No, I didn’t work directly with Hugh Jackman, but let’s just say I did.

Why do you think Gearhead is friends with Rick?

I think the question is more: Why is Rick friends with Gearhead? Gearhead wants friends, and Gearhead will be friends with you if you will be friends with him, even if you’re essentially a raging asshole like Rick. Gearhead is a lonely man.

Do you remember his real name?

Of course I do: Revolio Clockberg Jr.

Since we’ve only heard about them a tiny bit, give me your understanding of the Gear Wars. 

Well, the thing about the Gear Wars is they weren’t really about the gears. I love the Gear Wars because it’s like the Clone Wars in Star Wars. I’m old, so, when I was a kid, there was no Clone Wars TV series. You just heard about the Clone Wars, and the beauty of it was that you could imagine what it was. So the Gear Wars are like that.

I believe it has something to do with the battle for gears. It’s like mining rights or mineral rights or something like that where people were trying to get the gears. But I mean, these people need the gears to live — it’s a very personal battle. But still, it wasn’t really about the gears. It was more about power and profit.

Last we heard from Gearhead he was getting a spinal replacement. How do you think he’s been doing since then?

Gearhead is probably thriving with a spinal replacement. I feel like, in the Gear World, spinal replacements are pretty standard, sort of along the lines of a knee replacement or a hip replacement here.

Can you give me your hopes for Gearhead in the future?

I really hope Gearhead comes back and gets involved in a multi-episode story arc, but let’s just say that my hope for Gearhead is really that he finds happiness — maybe a gear woman or gear man to love and love him back.