Iago (Aladdin)

Iago
Disney's Aladdin character
Iago during one of his angrier moments
First appearance	Aladdin (1992)
Created by	Will Finn John Musker Ron Clements Howard Ashman
Voiced by	Gilbert Gottfried
Species	Parrot

Iago is a fictional supporting character in the animated Aladdin films and television series produced by The Walt Disney Company. He is voiced by Gilbert Gottfried and appeared in the first film as the sidekick to the main villain Jafar, and later becomes one of the protagonists for the rest of the franchise's run. The red-plumed talking scarlet macaw is an apparent homage to an identically-named red parrot in the Tintin adventure The Castafiore Emerald.

Iago had been originally conceived as a "British" calm and serious character, but was reworked into a comic role after the filmmakers saw Gilbert Gottfried in Beverly Hills Cop II and Gottfried was cast to provide Iago's voice. Iago's animator Will Finn tried to incorporate some aspects of Gottfried's appearance into Iago's design, especially his semi-closed eyes and the always-appearing teeth.

Gilbert Gottfried has said that his voiceover career really began after voicing the character in the 1992 film. “... that has been one of those things that lives on,” he said. “That seemed to open the door for other voiceover jobs.”

Gottfried's unique onstage persona led to him being cast as the wise-cracking Iago. Gottfried is often referred to as "the Iago guy" and similar terms, being more known by his voice role than by name.

Iago resembles a scarlet macaw, though smaller in size and with shorter feathers while retaining the blue tipped wing feathers, blue tail, and white around the eyes. He can speak fluent English and has the ability to perfectly mimic other characters' voices. He also possesses knowledge of various tricks learned from Jafar. He is easily frustrated and openly vocalizes his frustrations, and avoids direct confrontations if he can help it, but when required, he can be quite cunning and mischievous.