Video games give B-list actors a second chance
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 3rd 2008 at 7:00PM }
While some of you might recognize the gap-toothed gentleman pictured above as actor Keith David, from such films as "The Thing" or "Requiem for a Dream", we'd wager that more of you know his voice -- David is arguably the most prolific celebrity-turned-video game voice actor on the planet, picking up roles in Fallout, Saints Row, Planescape: Torment, Mass Effect, and, of course, providing the guttural dialogue for the Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3. Though his on-screen career isn't booming, David has found a comfortable niche in the video game voice acting market.
According to a recent Reuters article, he's not the only celebrity to slip through the cracks of big screen Hollywood, only to find solace and celebrity in video games. Terrence 'T.C.' Carson, whose career dried up after his role in the moderately successful sitcom "Living Single", has voiced a number of video game characters -- including everyone's favorite brooding Spartan, Kratos. Michael Ironside of Top Gun and Starship Troopers fame provides the voice of Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher.
These kinds of jobs are quickly gaining popularity in Hollywood, says Reuters, as voice work provides a much steadier paycheck than that of on-screen roles. We see it as a win-win situation -- down on their luck actors with distinct voices can find a nice amount of celebrity in the gaming realm, and as a result, we don't have to suffer through another era of wretched, Tenchu-esque voice acting. God bless you, Keith David.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kizzle @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:06PM
Actually, I'd wager this is the most noteworthy pre-Halo Keith David role (if you don't watch the whole thing - shame on you - but skip to about halfway through):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3Ko6hXTa4
Moffka @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:28PM
R.I.P Mr. Rogers
Co @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:03PM
One of Keith's best roles IMO is "Kirby" in Dead Presidents. Hell of a movie too.
Tom Schwarz @ Feb 4th 2008 12:07PM
No one remembers Keith David's role as Spawn in HBO's Animated Series?
He was THE most bad ass Spawn ever.
Ever since his role in that, he has been on of my favorite voice actors. And I LOVE every game he has been in.
But I did NOT know he was the Arbiters Voice...that makes him even more awesome.
nick @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:07PM
it's sam fisher not shephard lol
SoxFan13 @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:10PM
This is where I hope the future of Dustin "Screech Powers" Diamond lies.
Bluebrake @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:10PM
Keith David has such an awesome voice. Somewhat ironically, since I'm not an XBox-type gamer, I've never heard his voice in a video game. I mostly know him from older movies and PBS documentaries.
He also kicks the shit out of the Princess Mononoke English dub.
Neebs @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:20PM
Michael Ironside was also in C&C 3! Alongside Billy Dee Williams!
silkylove @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:22PM
How could you forget They Live!?>:(
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wqKFadyJxwg
AJ @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:21PM
Love that fight!
Nigeria @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:25PM
Keith David is a B-list actor?
Where is the B-list? Bring it to me so I can quell my insomnia.
*He was awesome in Clockers and Pitch Black.
silkylove @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:39PM
Right. He's not B-List. He was A list in the 80's and still pretty good. This is almost as bad as saying Kurt Russell is B-list
SugarDaddy @ Feb 4th 2008 1:15PM
Ya, seriously. He's not b-list. Something About Mary and Crash... not to mention quite the long resume:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0202966/
B-list... fools.
threetwoone @ Feb 7th 2008 10:02PM
"Now how's this motherfucker wake up after thousands of years in the ice, huh?"
"I don't know how. Because he's different than we are. Because he's a space guy. What do you want from me, anyway. Go ask Blair."
Best movie ever.
Ranus Studios @ Feb 3rd 2008 7:51PM
More like "Michael Ironside of Free Willy fame."
silkylove @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:01PM
I wouldn't call Michael Ironside a B-list actor either. He had a huge part in Total Recall and Starship Troopers. B-List actor is different. If you want an example of a B-List actor then look at Michael Dudikoff. That's a B-List actor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dudikoff
Ranus Studios @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:32PM
That's what I meant. Free Willy is a great movie.
LaughingMan @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:00PM
Dude... Keith David was Goliath from Gargoyles. No one calls him B-list.
McWeen @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:14PM
Hell yeah! He was awesome on Gargoyles. (As if my pic doesn't show that I'm a Gargoyles fan)
Savok @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:29PM
Thank Christ someone remembered.
KingOfGods @ Feb 4th 2008 11:53AM
Loved Gargoyles..but what about his voice work as Spawn
DoomPlague @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:03PM
Anyone notice how many games Dwight Schultz (A-team, Star trek) voices?
Not to mention Phil Lamarr...
ManekiNeko @ Feb 4th 2008 4:10AM
Wasn't that the gay guy from Revenge of the Nerds?
kbomb1upc @ Feb 4th 2008 12:30PM
Yeah Phil Lamaar played Vamp from MGS: 2 and the Green Lantern
Dave Silva @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:05PM
Hey, Michael Ironside is the most badass Canadian to ever leave the country. He's basically Canada's Chuck Norris. He's THAT awesome. Don't dis him. :(
rawkersparadise @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:10PM
you guys are forgetting Kieth David was in "men at work" and said
"There are several sacred things in this world that you don't *ever* mess with. One of them happens to be another man's fries. Now, you remember that, and you will live a long and healthy life."
words to live by
Shmil @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:57PM
my god i had no idea that kieth david was louis in men at work, that is one of the greatest characters ever
FireStiq @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:23PM
His voice acting in video games is top notch, as the arbiter and the demon in Princess Mononoke, He's just a bada**
Arturo @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:21PM
Plus Keith David tells people to accelerate their lives quite a bit.
AJ @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:24PM
Yeah, Keith David is so famous for being a "B" movie actor that, as far as fame is concerned, he is actually closer to A list. Like Tony Todd or Bruce Campbell. I guess he is "B" level because while most people will recognize him or his voice, most don't know his name.
FireStiq @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:35PM
I forgot about his role as Goliath in Gargoyles
Carrie @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:38PM
Keith David is the voice of God.
Jhongerkong @ Feb 3rd 2008 8:51PM
Sam Shepherd? Someones been playing too much Mass Effect.
kojo87 @ Feb 3rd 2008 9:41PM
i want that shirt he is wearing.
David @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:05PM
The only B-Actor that I know is Bruce Campbell. :(
Fernando Rocker @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:12PM
Bruce Campbell! Army of Darkness for the fucking win!
Pancake Ninja @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:38PM
Although I've heard him in most of those games. I remember him more noteably from Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black.
Where the hell did you get Sam Shepard from?
ManekiNeko @ Feb 4th 2008 4:40AM
I think that's a Fox News reporter...
capt_carl @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:43PM
More Billy Zane please. His performance in Kingdom Hearts still makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.
dfd @ Feb 3rd 2008 10:46PM
Keith David also narrated Ken Burns' recent documentary about World War II. That's hardly B-list either.
mergedwarrior @ Feb 3rd 2008 11:35PM
Er.. I think Joystiq means Sam Fisher?
Huey2k2 @ Feb 4th 2008 12:15AM
IT'S A TRAP!
ogvor @ Feb 4th 2008 12:11AM
No, no, no, whenever you say his name it's Michael FUCKING Ironside. That's the right way.
Miles @ Feb 4th 2008 12:46AM
So this guy Keith David has an incredible voice and decides to use it to make a ton of money voicing anime, videogames, commercials and just about every other thing in the world, so now he's a B-actor.
So if Bill Clinton did like two movies would that relegate him to "B-list " also? Even though he's famous for focusing most of his time being President?
Or is Jessica Simpson also a B-List actress even though she's sold a ton of (crappy) CDs? I really want to know.
Zach S @ Feb 4th 2008 1:20AM
Keith David freaks me out so much!!! His voice work always seems to be leaders and heros and junk, but onscreen he's just creep-tastic! Granted, the only things I remember him from are Requiem For A Dream and Crash... but still. Great actor and voice-actor, though!
Zach S @ Feb 4th 2008 1:21AM
P.S. I know what it is! It's those eyebrows- I don't even know what expression he's making, but it weirds me out!
Aaron @ Feb 4th 2008 8:27AM
Wow, B-List? Seriously?
Sure, he works a lot, and many of the films his in suck, but he is not a B-list actor. I don't know how you can call anyone who has been in the following movies B-List.
Keith was in:
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Crash
Barbershop
Requiem for a Dream
There's Something About Mary
Armageddon
The Quick and the Dead
Platoon
The Thing
This is the last time I read anything posted by Griffin McElroy. Can't trust a man who calls Keith David B-List.
mastafool @ Feb 4th 2008 8:44AM
"Though his on-screen career isn't booming, David has found a comfortable niche in the video game voice acting market."
Wow Joystiq, that's grossly inaccurate at best.
Here's Keith David's IMDB list: http://imdb.com/name/nm0202966/
Gamerdad @ Feb 4th 2008 8:49AM
Is that the frank or the beans?
fco. @ Feb 4th 2008 9:24AM
Let's not forget of Mark Hamill's starring role on the Wing Comander games, not just voice-acting, but actually appearing in the cinematics. Ah, the early days of the CD-rom...