For more than three decades, Rick Dempsey lived in a world of magic. Hired by Roy Disney—Walt’s nephew—he worked his way up to Senior Vice President of Creative at The Walt Disney Company. His mission? To ensure beloved characters like Mickey Mouse, Elsa, and the family of Encanto spoke consistently and authentically to audiences across the globe.
Rather hear the conversation with Rick Dempsey?
“I started in 1988,” Rick recalls. “I like to say I was pre-Little Mermaid. The goal was character consistency. At one point, there were seven people voicing Mickey Mouse between the parks, studio, and products. My job was to make sure no matter where in the world you heard Mickey, it was the same Mickey.”
From Tarzan to Frozen, Rick traveled the world ensuring Disney stories were told in dozens of languages—long before streaming made global releases the norm. He remembers sitting in a helicopter with Phil Collins over the Alps while working on Tarzan’s soundtrack. “It was cloud nine for me,” Rick laughs, “though back home, my wife was juggling five kids with the flu. While I was flying over the Alps, she was dealing with real life.”
In 2022, after 35 years with Disney, Rick felt God stirring something new. “My wife and I prayed about it, and I realized my Disney season was over. I announced my retirement, but I wasn’t done. God had more in store.”
That “more” came in the most unexpected way—over a Hawaiian shave ice.
“It was the middle of COVID, and nobody was talking to each other,” Rick says. “My wife and I sat on a bench at 11:30 in the morning—way too early for shave ice—and a stranger sat down next to us. We got to talking, and it turned out he was a believer. He told me, ‘God’s going to give you an opportunity outside Disney.’”
That “stranger” ended up in the boardroom with the Come and See Foundation, which had just acquired The Chosen’s intellectual property. They were asking the question: How do we get this translated into every language of the world?
The man who shared shave ice with Rick said, “I know a guy.”
Today, Rick leads the global translation of The Chosen into 600 languages. The team has already reached nearly 200, with more than 60 available in the app right now. Subtitles are available in 86 languages, with more added every month.
But this isn’t simply about dubbing voices. “We don’t just translate word-for-word,” Rick explains. “We adapt idioms and cultural nuances so the story feels natural. And because The Chosen quotes Scripture directly, we work with theologians to ensure biblical accuracy. It’s a balance—remaining faithful to God’s Word while telling a story that draws people to Christ.”
The impact has been profound. In countries where Bibles are banned, The Chosen has been allowed in as “art.” Viewers who might never have access to Scripture are encountering Jesus—in their heart language—for the very first time.
“We’re getting the gospel into places like China and the Middle East, where Bibles can’t go,” Rick says. “Storytelling is opening doors that nothing else can.”
Looking back, Rick now sees his 35 years at Disney as preparation for this moment. “Disney was my training ground,” he says. “Now I get to use those same skills—casting voices, ensuring authenticity, shaping stories—for something eternal.”
His prayer is simple: that The Chosen will be a bridge. “Our heart is that people watch the show and it drives them to their Bibles, into their churches, and ultimately into a relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Rick’s story is also a reminder that God’s call doesn’t end with retirement. “He’s not done with us until we’re in the grave,” Rick smiles. “There are great things in store for anyone who puts their hope in Christ.”
From flying over the Alps with Phil Collins to sitting on a park bench in Hawaii with a stranger, Rick has seen how God uses every season—and every detail—for His purposes.
“Who would have thought a shave ice at 11:30 a.m. could change the trajectory of my life?” Rick says. “But that’s God. He weaves it all together for His glory.”
To learn more about The Chosen’s translation efforts or to support the mission, visit Come and See Foundation.
