Duke Nukem Doesn’t Want Hollywood Stars Taking Video Game Work From Voice Actors

It's hard out there for a voice actor. It doesn't matter if you're Nolan North, Jennifer Hale or Steve Blum, it seems that some companies are always going to look for big name "Hollywood" talent first.

This has been a thorn in the side of one particularly iconic voice actor - Jon St. John. You probably know him as the voice of Duke Nukem, but he's a veteran voice actor and radio personality with over 30 years of experience in the industry.

[123_321]

Most 'big' actors cant even act properly. Look at Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise and Jim Carrey. They're the same character in almost the exact same role in every one of their movies. Johnny Depp is a real actor, he can be different in every movie. As for big actors doing voice work in games, i think it's a waste of money. Why would you hire a Hollywood actor who will demand millions as payment when you can get a proper voice actor who will do an excellent job and take whatever pay they are given.

[Lord_Sloth]

I cannot BELIEVE you just said something negative about Clint F****** Eastwood...

[h311rais3r]

^^ He doesn't understand type casting.

[SilentNegotiator]

Seriously. I mean, it's not like Clint acts like Harry Callahan or a cowboy on his days off. He's the creative type that always has a spark in his eye.

[RXL]

that's funny because what has johnny depp played in his last...what..five movies?...a weird person with a british/english accent..

typecasting it's called...

Clint Eastwood has a phenomenal career and was type cast into the cowboy role...it's what people love seeing him as..that..or a police officer...

same with Jim Carrey...they want him to be the zany goofy rubber faced underdog...

and Tom Cruise because hollywood needs a weirdo that runs in all his movies...but i digress...

if the actors/actress's personality is large and over powering..of course that's gonna come through in all of their performances

one of the move DIVERSE actors of our time (Christopher Lee) even gets typecast..

[SilentNegotiator]

"Johnny Depp is a real actor, he can be different in every movie"

Yeah.
That drunk character, drunker character, and drunkest character.

I'm kidding about Depp, but come on. Because those persons are typecasted into roles, they "can't act properly"?

[123_321]

I know that those actors are typecasted and that's exactly the point i'm trying to make.
When a Hollywood actor does a voice for a character on a game and you hear it, you say to yourself 'That's Clint Eastwood' or 'That's Sylvester Stallone' ect, but with games you don't know who is doing voice overs until the credits roll. I dont think that a Hollywood actor would be as effective at expressing emotions through their voice alone as a real voice actor like Jennifer Hale or Nolan North would.
Also, real voice actors can change their voices and acsents whereas actors usually cant.
Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp are some of my favourite actors, that's why i listed them. I wasn't trying to take anything away from their acting because i think what they do, they do VERY well.
I think if a Hollywood actor is doing voice over work on a game, the character they portray would have to be designed with that actor in mind. Otherwise, i don't think these actors can be as effective as people like Nolan North, Jennifer Hale, Tara Strong, David Hayter ect.
Also, i do realise that saying "can't act properly" was a poor choice of words that i shouldn't have used.

[Lord_Sloth]

I fine it hilarious you said you can't always identify a VA due to their skill and then cite Jennifer Hale as your example of a great VA. She uses the same freaking voice in EVERYTHING she's done after MGS2.

[chanmasta]

Other people have taken care of everyone else you mentioned but Tom Cruise. What you said is total crap. Look at the movies Cruise has done; pretty much every single one is completely different with a very different performance. Don't jump on the "Oh Cruise sucks, he's crazy and loves Scientology oooooh jumps on couches, etc." hating bandwagon. People make it much worse than it is.

Rock Of Ages just came out where he plays a rockstar, took vocal lessons from Axl Rose's vocal coach and sings BRILLIANTLY. From secret agent to sports agent, from vampire to wheelchaired war veteran, from cocky self-help speaker to futuristic crime detective, from an old German army officer plotting to kill Hitler to a pilot, from a cocktail shaking bartender to a professional snooker player, from a military advisor-turned war samurai to a bald, fat, heavy swearing, always angry studio executive.

Yeah, okay dude.

[SilentNegotiator]

I understand Jon, but voice work on games should be as equal opportunity for movie actors as the other way around. It's no one's fault that voice actors behind animations don't hold as much of a face as movie actors. It's an unfortunate reality.

I mean, it still blows some persons' minds when they find out that the joker is usually played by 'that guy from star wars'

[ChunkyLover53]

If your a good voice actor, you'll get the work. Tara Strong is a perfect example of this. She does so many different voices and roles in cartoons and video games, and does such a wonderful job in all of them that she'll continue to get a ton of work.

Personally I don't think Hollywood actors do very well in most games, so I don't think its something that will become a trend.

[FinaLXiii]

omg cant wait for the next Duke Nukem