Larry the Cable Guy wells up talking about landing Mater role in Pixar’s ‘Cars’
An interview with Larry the Cable Guy resurfaced this week on social media, and it has more than just Larry tearing up. The comedian sat down with Graham Bengsinger in 2017. He shared how Pixar approached him in 2002 and the many ways a tow truck character, known to adoring fans as Mater, changed his life. For Larry, a successful comedian touring with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, the “Cars” role came as a complete surprise…and one he could hardly believe.
In 2002, Larry’s manager’s assistant, Maggie, asked if he’d checked his fax machine. “We got a cool offer. I think you’ll love it,” she said. Curious, Larry read the letter: Pixar, known for casting A-list stars, wanted him for a role in their upcoming film, “Cars.” There was a monetary offer in there, too.
Larry didn’t grasp the enormity of the opportunity right away.
“I thought I’d have to audition. But Maggie said, ‘No, you’ve got the part.’”
Overwhelmed, Larry broke down in tears. “It was the greatest thing ever. I’m getting emotional thinking about it,” he told Bensinger.
Pixar’s faith in Larry didn’t waver. When he arrived to record, Pixar’s John Lasseter greeted him warmly, saying, “You’re my tow truck.”
At first, Mater was called “Zeb,” but Pixar’s Lasseter renamed the character after a die-hard NASCAR fan nicknamed Mater. Larry’s first line was simple: “Hey, my name’s Mater, like ‘tuh-mater’ without the ‘tuh.’” Lasseter was ecstatic. “That’s it! That’s my tow truck!”
Initially a minor character, Mater blossomed into a major role. Larry’s natural humor shone as he ad-libbed phrases like “Dadgum” and “Git-R-Done.” Months later, when Larry hadn’t heard from Pixar, he worried. “Did they not like it?” he asked. But Pixar was reworking the script to include more Mater. Lasseter explained, “The animators love Mater. He’s one of our favorite characters ever.”
The experience transformed Larry the Cable Guy’s career. “It introduced me to a whole new audience,” he said, visibly emotional. “Everything I worked for, all the years on the road, it led to this moment. It makes me so happy.”
