Voice actors do so much for the characters we spend our free time with. While writing is critical to shaping each character, so much of a character’s personality is driven by a voice actor’s performance.
Voice acting has become such an established part of the typical gaming experience, but disagreement between voice actors and publishers could lead to a voice actor strike, meaning that some of the voices we’ve gone on adventures with could disappear for a period of time. Join us as we highlight some of the actors behind the voices we’ve spent hours upon hours with.
Nolan North
One of the most prominent voice actors in the history of the industry, Nolan North has taken on several major roles and has become all but synonymous with voice acting in the game industry. In addition to taking on several leading roles in major games, he was also listed as himself as a voice option for your character in Saints Row IV.
Notable Roles:
- Nathan Drake, Uncharted
- Ghost, Destiny
- Desmond Miles, Assassin’s Creed
Jen Taylor
She’s quite literally the voice in your head. Jen Taylor has enjoyed a long run as Cortana in the Halo series, but she has done much more than voice Master Chief’s A.I. companion. In addition to that role, she has also worked with two of the most beloved developers, playing major roles in Nintendo’s Mario games and Valve’s Left 4 Dead series.
Notable Roles:
- Cortana/Dr. Halsey – Halo
- Peach/Toad – Mario series (1999 – 2007)
- Zoey – Left 4 Dead
Tara Strong
With a history in video game voice acting stretching back to the ‘90s, Tara Strong is one of the mainstays of the industry. From appearances in smaller titles to major parts in triple-A releases like the Metal Gear Solid series, Strong is known as one of the go-to voice actors in the video game industry. Also, she’s an incredible Harley Quinn.
Notable Roles:
- Harley Quinn – Batman: Arkham/Injustice: Gods Among Us/Infinite Crisis/Lego Batman
- Paz Ortega Andrade – Metal Gear Solid V
- Rikku – Final Fantasy X/X-2
Charles Martinet
Thanks to this man, Nintendo’s flagship character might just have the most well-known voice of any character in the industry. While he hasn’t permeated the industry in the diverse way that Nolan North and Troy Baker have, Charles Martinet has more games under his belt than almost any other voice actor on this list.
Notable Roles:
- Mario/Luigi/Wario/Waluigi/Baby Mario/Baby Luigi – Mario series
- Paarthurnax – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Gouji Rokkaku – Jet Set Radio
Ashley Johnson
Though she took home a BAFTA Award for her role in The Last of Us, it essentially served as Ashley Johnson’s breakout role in video game voice acting. A professional actress since the late ‘80s, Johnson has enjoyed a long history of acting in both film and television before making the jump to video games in the mid ‘00s with games based on animated TV series she had previously voiced characters in.
Notable Roles:
- Ellie – The Last of Us
- Gwen Tennyson – Ben 10
- Petra – Minecraft: Story Mode
Ellen McLain
Even though she speaks in a robotic voice for the role you best know her for, Ellen McLain still conveys a sharp wit and sincere menace without breaking a sweat. McLain has also worked with Valve in several other projects, and has appeared as GlaDOS in several games from developers like Telltale Games, Hidden Path Entertainment, and Traveller’s Tales.
Notable Roles:
- GlaDOS/Turrets/Caroline/Spheres – Portal
- Administrator – Team Fortress 2
- Combine Overwatch – Half-Life 2
Phil LaMarr
Even if you know Phil LaMarr primarily due to his work on MADtv or Futurama, his history in video game voice acting is undeniable. With an established body of video game voice acting work stretching back to the early ‘00s, LaMarr has shown longevity and adaptability in his roles.
Notable Roles:
- Vamp – Metal Gear Solid
- Kotal Kahn – Mortal Kombat X
- Aquaman – Injustice: Gods Among Us/Young Justice: Legacy
Tara Platt
From early roles in games like Halo 2 to more recent appearances in titles like Bayonetta 2, Tara Platt has likely appeared in a game you’ve spent a lot of time in. Platt has also voiced several characters in anime series including Naruto and Sailor Moon.
Notable Roles:
- Mitsuru Kirijo – Persona 3
- Zero – Drakengard 3
- Noir – Tales of the Abyss
John DiMaggio
Another veteran voice actor who appeared in Futurama, John DiMaggio has landed some high profile roles thanks to his flexible vocal chords. Without prior knowledge, it would be hard to imagine that the same voice actor played both Bender and Marcus Fenix.
Notable Roles:
- Marcus Fenix – Gears of War
- Wakka/Kimahri – Final Fantasy X
- Galactus/Colossus/Odin/Kingpin/Rocket Raccoon/Thanos – Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Courtnee Draper
Though she is best known for her work as your likeable companion Elizabeth in BioShock Infinite, she has brought her talents to several smaller roles. While she did lend her voice to the Kingdom Hearts series earlier on, she now appears to be expanding more into the game industry.
Notable Roles:
- Elizabeth – BioShock Infinite
- White Tiger – Disney Infinity
- Karen – Alien Rage
On the next page, we take a look at more prominent video game voice actors.