Voice actors are some of the most underappreciated people working in entertainment. Rather than getting in front of a camera/stage and act for millions, voice actors stay behind the microphone and give life to some of the most beloved characters in entertainment, especially in the world of video games. For this list, we'll be taking a look at different console characters who were voiced by the same actor. Prepare to have your mind blown after learning the various VO's behind some of your favorite video game franchises, let's dive in and find out.
10 Noland North played both Sigmund and Nathan Drake
Nolan North has become one of the most recognized names in the game industry. Since playing Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series, he's played some of the most recognized characters in the medium, including Richtofen in the Call of Duty series, Ghost in Destiny, and Desmond Miles in the first few Assassin's Creed series. However, he's also given life to the keeper of Time and Space, Sigmund, in Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time. His voice is unrecognizable when portraying the shy, yet helpful robot.
9 Laura Baily voices Catherine and Kait Diez
Before becoming one of the most prominent actresses in the industry, Laura Baily started with dubbing Anime and JRPGs. In that realm of VO, she played Rise from Persona 4, Serra from Final Fantasy XIII, and more. One of her more memorable roles was in playing the titular female lead in Catherine. Catherine may be sweet and innocent, but she hides a much darker secret that won't be spoiled. It's a role that's hard to imagine her playing now since she's voiced the new lead in Gears 5's Kait Diez. From a promiscuous girl to a hard-as-nails soldier, it is a pretty big leap in the last ten years in her career.
8 Solid Snake and the Mudokons are both voiced by David Hayter
Solid Snake is one of the most iconic characters in all of gaming and voice actor David Hayter has voiced him in nearly every game he has been featured in. From the Metal Gear Solid series to Snakes appearances in Smash Brothers, Hayter has become incredibly reliable to voice the Protagonist. However, what people may be shocked to learn is that Hayter has also voiced the Mudokons in the 2014 game, Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty. It's hard to see the man behind Snake play such small little characters.
7 Senator Armstrong and Celebrimbor are both voiced by Alastair Duncan
Keeping on the Metal Gear side of gaming, one of the franchises most bizarre characters(which is saying a lot) was the main antagonist of Metal Gear Rising: Revegence, Senator Armstrong. This evil politician wanted to start WW III to agitate Americans enough so that they would vote for him and become President; Thus granting Amstrong to allow the American people to "start their own wars" and "eliminate the weak."
If that wasn't crazy for you, how about learning that Major Armstrong was voiced by Alastair Duncan, the actor who portrayed Celebrimbor, the creator of the Three Rings of Power in Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. While the character was introduced in one of Tolkien's later novels, he never appeared in any of the Major books and film series. It's surprising to learn that the same actor voices these two characters.
6 Robin Akin Downes played Travis Touchdown and the Locust Kantus
While actors like Nolan North and Laura Baily have voiced in a few games, Robin Akin Downes has performed in just as many, if not more, video game. The actor has lent his talent in various franchises, including Metal Gear Solid, Kingdom Hearts, Uncharted, and more. One of his most well-known characters is the Foul-Mouthed Otaku, Travis Touchdown, from the No More Heroes franchise.
Along with voicing humans, Downes has also voiced a ton of creatures in games. The most well-known of these is the Locust Kantus, the enemy that can revive allies and summon tickers, from Gears of War. He also played LT. Kim in the first game.
5 Mario and Paarthurnax are both voiced by Charles Martinet
Charles Martinet has the distinct honor of voicing the most recognized video game character of all time, Mario. Along with playing Nintendo's beloved mascot, Marinet has brung life to other characters. One of the most surprising characters he's voiced was the Dragon Paarthurnax, the leader of the Greybeards, in 2011's Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.
4 Keith Ferguson voices Marluxia and Reaper
Keith Ferguson has been VOing for games for about 15 years now and has helped depict some of gamings most recognized characters. His most prolific role in video games is voicing the shotgun-wielding warrior, Reaper, from Overwatch. But, whereas Reaper's voice actor has to deepen to play the character, the exact opposite is true when it comes to the more flamboyant Marluxia from the Kingdom Hearts series. That's right, the Grim Reaper of Overwatch also plays the Flower Scythe member of Organization XIII. He's a deadlier voice actor than you think.
3 Darien De Paul voices both Reinhardt and Ardyn Izunia
Continuing with Overwatch characters, one of the games more colorful characters is the large Knight Reinhart. Much like Reaper, the actor portraying Reinhart, Darien De Paul, uses a much deeper voice. This, like with Ferguson, makes it hard to believe it when you learn that the actor also plays a much more lively character, like say Ardyn Izunia, from Final Fantasy XV.
2 Jennifer Hale played Samus Arran and Commander Sheppard
Jennifer Hale has been voicing in games for more than 25 years. She's been apart of so many games, that she is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most prolific voice actress in gaming, starring in over 200 different titles. Possibly her most recognized role in the medium is voicing the female version of Commander Sheppard in the Mass Effect series. But, she's also voiced THE female character of gaming in Samus Arran in the Metroid Prime series.
While Samus may not talk throughout the series(We won't mention Other M as long as you do), she's done plenty of grunting from taking damage from the Space Pirates that she hunts. A lot of those noises were made by the self-proclaimed "Queen of Video Games" herself, Jennifer Hale.
1 Phil LaMarr plays Vulgrim and Vamp
Before he became a voice actor, Phil LaMarr was best known for the multiple roles he played on MadTV. After leaving the show after season 5, LaMarr shifted his career over to voice over work, starring in shows like Futurama, Justice League and the like. In the world of video games, one of his more notorious roles was in Metal Gear Solid 2, where he portrayed the Vampire-like soldier Vamp. However, he also is known for portraying the sinister merchant, Vulgrim, from the Darksiders series. While both are pretty shady fellows, they're both played by the same actor.