If you’ve spent any time in the neon-soaked, depressingly relatable world of Hollywoo, you know Todd Chavez. He’s the guy who crashed on a couch and stayed for six seasons. He’s the architect of clown dentistry and Halloween stores that are only open in January. But there’s a specific grit beneath the whimsy of his voice that sounds familiar to anyone who owned a TV in 2010.
Who voices Todd in BoJack Horseman? It is none other than Aaron Paul.
Most people know him as Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad. You know, the guy screaming "Science, b****!" in the middle of the New Mexico desert. Transitioning from a meth-cooking tragedy to a yellow-beanie-wearing slacker was a wild pivot. Honestly, it shouldn’t have worked as well as it did.
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Why Aaron Paul was the Only Choice for Todd Chavez
When Raphael Bob-Waksberg was putting together the cast for BoJack Horseman, he didn't just need a "funny guy." He needed someone who could play a "lovable loser" without making the audience actually hate them for being a mooch.
Aaron Paul brought a very specific kind of vulnerability to Todd. Think about it. Todd spends years being verbally abused by a horse who hates himself. If a standard sitcom actor played Todd, he might have come across as a punching bag or a moron. With Paul, Todd feels like a person who is actively choosing kindness in a world that doesn't value it.
The range is actually pretty staggering. One minute, he’s doing a silly voice for a "smoodie" (a smart smoothie) pitch. The next, he’s delivering the most crushing line in the series: "You are all the things that are wrong with you." That transition from comedy to raw, unfiltered truth is Aaron Paul’s specialty.
He wasn't just a voice for hire
It’s a little-known fact that Aaron Paul was actually an executive producer on the show. He wasn't just showing up to a booth, reading lines, and collecting a paycheck. He was part of the DNA of the series from the jump.
Paul has mentioned in several interviews that he fell in love with the pilot script immediately. He saw the potential for the show to be more than just another "adult animation" show filled with cutaway gags. He stayed with it until the very end, which is rare for a high-profile actor who could have easily jumped ship for a massive blockbuster movie.
The Cultural Impact of Todd’s Journey
We can't talk about who voices Todd in BoJack Horseman without talking about the character's legacy. Todd Chavez became a pioneer for asexuality representation on television.
For a long time, TV characters who didn't want sex were treated as "broken" or "cold." Todd wasn't either of those things. He was warm, social, and full of life. When he finally says the words, "I think I’m asexual," it felt earned. Aaron Paul’s delivery in those moments—hesitant but hopeful—resonated with thousands of viewers who had never seen themselves on screen before.
The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) even praised the show for how it handled Todd’s realization. It wasn't a "very special episode" that was forgotten a week later. It became a core part of who he was.
The "Jesse Pinkman" Connection
Fans often joke that Todd is just Jesse Pinkman in an alternate universe where he never met Walter White.
- Both wear beanies.
- Both are often underestimated.
- Both are essentially looking for a father figure and keep finding toxic ones.
But Todd eventually breaks the cycle. While Jesse's story is one of survival and trauma, Todd's story is one of self-actualization. He goes from sleeping on a couch to being a father and a successful (in his own weird way) professional.
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Where to see (or hear) Aaron Paul next
If you're missing that scratchy, earnest voice, Aaron Paul hasn't slowed down since the show wrapped in 2020. He’s popped up in Westworld, returned for the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul, and continues to work on various film projects.
However, many fans still argue that Todd Chavez is his best work. It’s easy to hide behind a cartoon, but Paul used that distance to give one of the most human performances in modern television history.
Next Steps for BoJack Fans
If you've finished the series and want to dive deeper into the production, look for the "BoJack Horseman: The Art Before the Horse" book. It features early sketches of Todd—who originally looked quite different—and explains how Aaron Paul's casting influenced the final design of the character. You can also track down the original pilot pitch to see how the "roommate" dynamic was first envisioned before it evolved into the complex friendship we saw on screen.