Morty Smith Casting: Actor Revealed
Morty Smith casting: actor revealed
Morty Smith is currently played by Harry Belden, who took over the role in Rick and Morty beginning with season 7 after Justin Roiland was removed from the series. Before that change, Roiland voiced Morty from seasons 1 through 6, making Belden the first permanent recast of the character in the show's main run.
Who voices Morty
The most important casting fact is simple: Harry Belden is the voice of Morty Smith in the current era of the series. Belden's casting was revealed when season 7 premiered in 2023, and the credit roll confirmed the recast for both Morty and Rick after Adult Swim ended its association with Justin Roiland earlier that year.
Roiland had originally been the voice behind Morty for the show's early seasons, so the recast marked one of the biggest behind-the-scenes changes in the franchise's history. That shift mattered because Morty is one of the two central characters, and his voice is instantly recognizable to long-time viewers.
Character background
Morty Smith is the anxious teenage grandson of Rick Sanchez and the emotional counterweight to the show's chaotic sci-fi energy. Since the series debuted in 2013, Morty has been a core part of the storytelling, often serving as the audience surrogate while also being pushed into absurd, dangerous, and darkly comic situations.
For viewers, the voice casting is not just a trivia point; it shapes how Morty feels in every scene. In animation, continuity of vocal performance can influence character identity as strongly as visuals do, which is why the season 7 recast drew so much attention when it became public.
Cast timeline
The casting history of Morty Smith can be summarized in a straightforward timeline:
- 2013-2023: Justin Roiland voices Morty Smith from the series premiere through season 6.
- 2023-present: Harry Belden voices Morty Smith starting with season 7.
This transition was part of a broader recast across the series, since Rick Sanchez also received a new voice actor in the same season. That made the change especially notable because both title characters shifted voices at once, an unusual move for a long-running animated hit.
Cast data
The table below organizes the key casting details for Morty Smith and the surrounding production context.
| Character | Actor | Seasons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morty Smith | Justin Roiland | 1-6 | Original voice actor and series co-creator |
| Morty Smith | Harry Belden | 7-present | Current voice actor for the role |
| Rick Sanchez | Justin Roiland | 1-6 | Voiced both lead characters before the recast |
| Rick Sanchez | Ian Cardoni | 7-present | New voice actor revealed alongside Belden |
Why the recast mattered
Industry-wise, the Morty Smith recast was a major event because it affected one of the most recognizable animated characters on television. When a voice actor change happens on a show with a large global audience, fans tend to compare the new performance against the original immediately, and that was especially true here because Morty's nervous cadence is central to the character.
The switch also came with high visibility because Adult Swim publicly moved away from Justin Roiland and then introduced the replacements through the season 7 premiere credits. That made the casting change less of a rumor and more of a confirmed production milestone.
"Harry Belden is Morty Smith" was the direct conclusion drawn by multiple entertainment outlets after the season 7 premiere credits identified the new cast.
How Morty changed
In practical terms, the character of Morty did not disappear or get reimagined; the role simply passed to a new performer. That approach is common in animation when a production wants to preserve a character's identity while changing the voice behind it.
Belden's job is to maintain Morty's familiar mix of fear, frustration, and reluctant loyalty, which is a demanding vocal balance for any actor. Because Morty is present in nearly every major story beat, the performance needs to feel consistent enough that viewers still hear the same character, even though the actor changed.
Other family voices
Rick and Morty also features a stable supporting cast around Morty, including Spencer Grammer as Summer Smith, Chris Parnell as Jerry Smith, and Sarah Chalke as Beth Smith. That continuity helps the show retain its familiar ensemble energy even when one of the lead voices changes.
- Spencer Grammer voices Summer Smith.
- Chris Parnell voices Jerry Smith.
- Sarah Chalke voices Beth Smith.
Frequently asked
What viewers should know
If you are asking "who played Morty Smith," the answer depends on whether you mean the original or current voice actor. Justin Roiland created and voiced the character first, but Harry Belden is the actor now associated with Morty in the modern seasons of the series.
That distinction matters because many searches for the character are really asking about the current casting status after the season 7 change. In that sense, the cleanest answer is that Harry Belden plays Morty Smith today, and Justin Roiland played him originally.
Helpful tips and tricks for Morty Smith Casting Actor Revealed
Who played Morty Smith?
Harry Belden currently plays Morty Smith, while Justin Roiland originally voiced the character from seasons 1 through 6.
When did the voice change happen?
The voice change took effect with season 7 in 2023, after the new cast was revealed in the premiere credits.
Did Justin Roiland ever voice Morty?
Yes, Justin Roiland was the original voice of Morty Smith and also voiced Rick Sanchez before being replaced in 2023.
Is Harry Belden the only actor to play Morty?
No, he is the current voice actor, but Justin Roiland played Morty first across the show's early seasons.
Why is the casting so important?
Morty is one of the series' two lead characters, so any change in his voice is a major continuity event for fans and for the show's identity.