15 Video Game Characters That Surprisingly Share the Same Voice Actor
The video game world is full of so many diverse characters and voices. We’ve got talking blue hedgehogs and Italian Assassin’s from The Third Crusade. But while so many of the games in the medium are lead by varied casts, a lot of them share a common thread thanks to their voice actor.
You’ll certainly recognize names like Troy Baker and Tara Strong, but may be surprised when you find out they tweaked their well-known voices in a slight way to make them unrecognizable. The same can be said for lesser-known talents as well, even if they may voice some of your favorite characters. There is obviously a reason that these people are professional voice actors.
From Shrek to the Norse god Baldur, here is a list of video game characters you may not have known shared a voice actor or actress, along with the respective artist’s name.
Do you have any interesting character overlaps that you’ve found? Feel a certain way about finding out Sonic and Ezio are voiced by the same person? Be sure to leave a comment in the section below. Also, don’t forget to look through the rest of Twinfinite for more interesting video game and entertainment pieces like this one.
Troy Baker as Pagan Min (Far Cry 4) and Kai Leng (Mass Effect 3)
Troy Baker is one of the most notable video game voice actors around, staring in beloved titles like Bioshock Infinite and The Last of Us. But the American voice actor has played his fair share of unique supporting roles too, even as an antagonist.
One of those antagonists was Pagan Min, which really doesn’t sound much like Baker at first, thanks to a dastardly English accent. Interestingly enough Baker was also the voice of Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3, though Leng didn’t talk much. Something tells me Min and Leng’s master, The Illusive Man, would have gotten along well.
Jen Taylor as Cortana (Halo Series) and Zoey (Left 4 Dead)
There is no Master Chief without Cortana. Their relationship transcends that of a simple soldier and his artificial intelligence. Played by actress Jen Taylor, the A.I being known to the Halo franchise has seen just as much action as Chief. That includes battling the parasite like zombies known as the flood.
It seems Taylor took a bit of that knowledge and bestowed it upon one of her other famous roles, as Zoe in the Left 4 Dead franchise. It is odd to see the voice of Cortana outside of the holographic body, but a second glance does make it seem like Zoe would be what Cortana would look like as a human though.
Dameon Clarke as Nathan Spencer (Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3) and Handsome Jack (Borderlands Series)
Dameon Clarke must really have a thing for characters with replaced body parts, as he has voiced both the Bionic Commando (Nathan Spencer) and Handsome Jack, two polar opposite characters. Where Spencer is a courageous military hero, Jack is a dictator that uses military might and firepower to accomplish his goals.
While he only played Nathan Spencer in the fighting game mashup Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, it’s fun to see that he did and then compare it to the psychotic Hyperion ruler that is Handsome Jack in the Borderlands series.
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Troy Baker as Pagan Min (Far Cry 4) and Kai Leng (Mass Effect 3)
Troy Baker is one of the most notable video game voice actors around, staring in beloved titles like Bioshock Infinite and The Last of Us. But the American voice actor has played his fair share of unique supporting roles too, even as an antagonist. One of those antagonists was Pagan Min, which really doesn’t sound much like Baker at first, thanks to a dastardly English accent. Interestingly enough Baker was also the voice of Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3, though Leng didn’t talk much. Something tells me Min and Leng’s master, The Illusive Man, would have gotten along well.
Jen Taylor as Cortana (Halo Series) and Zoey (Left 4 Dead)
There is no Master Chief without Cortana. Their relationship transcends that of a simple soldier and his artificial intelligence. Played by actress Jen Taylor, the A.I being known to the Halo franchise has seen just as much action as Chief. That includes battling the parasite like zombies known as the flood. It seems Taylor took a bit of that knowledge and bestowed it upon one of her other famous roles, as Zoe in the Left 4 Dead franchise. It is odd to see the voice of Cortana outside of the holographic body, but a second glance does make it seem like Zoe would be what Cortana would look like as a human though.
Dameon Clarke as Nathan Spencer (Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3) and Handsome Jack (Borderlands Series)
Dameon Clarke must really have a thing for characters with replaced body parts, as he has voiced both the Bionic Commando (Nathan Spencer) and Handsome Jack, two polar opposite characters. Where Spencer is a courageous military hero, Jack is a dictator that uses military might and firepower to accomplish his goals. While he only played Nathan Spencer in the fighting game mash-up Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, it's fun to see that he did and then compare it to the psychotic Hyperion ruler that is Handsome Jack in the Borderlands series.
Jennifer Hale as Female Commander Shepard (Mass Effect Series) and Samus Aran (Metroid Series)
When one thinks of two of the most badass alien fighting women in all of gaming, two names come to mind: Commander Shepard and Samus Aran. But did you know that the voice behind these two empowered females is one in the same? One of Jennifer Hale’s earliest works was as the voice of Metroid Prime’s protagonist, Samus Aran, a character often considered to be the first lady of video games. Hale made another huge impact as the female voice for Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series a few years later. While the majority of the marketing centered around the male version, voiced by Mark Meer, fans quickly decided that Hale’s version was their favorite.
Crispin Freeman as Baldur (Too Human) and Winston (Overwatch)
What do a Norse god and a super-intelligent, genetically engineered gorilla have in common? In this instance its that they are both voiced by video game actor Crispin Freeman. While Too Human may not have lived up to fans expectations, the 2008 action RPG centering around technologically driven Norse mythology did feature some awesome voice acting from protagonist Baldur, all thanks to Crispin Freeman. Eight years later, Freeman did manage to lend his voice to a successful game, as Winston in Blizzard’s First Person Shooter Overwatch.
Alix Wilton Regan as Aya (Assassin’s Creed Origins) and Ariane (Runescape)
Last year, Alix Wilton Regan was featured as one of the main voices of Ubisoft’s hit action-adventure game, Assassin’s Creed Origins, playing protagonist Bayek’s wife, Aya. But before she transported her voice to ancient Egypt, hardcore fans may know her as the voice of Ariane from Runescape. Ariane is one of the seven Signature Heroes in Runescape and is described as a free-spirit intellect. The character is also Regan's first ever gig as a voice actor, where Aya might be one of her most notable. Both games are still played today, despite their vastly different looks and gameplay.
Ashly Burch as Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn) and Chloe Price (Life is Strange)
One loves to spend her time attending metal shows and chain smoking while the other hunt metallic dinosaurs in a post-apocalyptic world. And both are voiced by Ashly Burch. While their situations may be distinctly different, Aloy and Chloe are both opinionated and sarcastic, alongside being pretty damn funny. One main difference is that, while Aloy is universally loved by Horizon Zero Dawn fans, Chloe can be hit or miss for Life is Strange fans.
Roger Craig Smith as Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog Series) and Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed Series)
Who would've ever thought that the suave Italian heartthrob that leads the Ezio trilogy was also the voice of a chilly dog loving, speedy blue hedgehog? Shortly after Roger Craig Smith began his role voicing Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin’s Creed series, he ended up taking over the role of Sonic the Hedgehog across all platforms. So any time you see and hear an attractive Italian man, you’ll naturally think of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Laura Bailey as Catherine (Catherine) and Kid Trunks (Dragon Ball Z Series)
The Dragon Ball anime is known for casting woman in the role of kid characters like Gohan and trucks, so it isn’t too surprising that the video game series does the same thing. That being said, you’ll never look at Kid Trunks the same thanks to Laura Bailey. Alongside for the vast majority of the Dragon Ball Z universe games, starting in 2003, Bailey also voices seductive and free-spirited young woman named Catherine in the 2011 title of the same name. While she may seem innocent at first, Catherine is actually a succubus who tempts men for her own ends.
Dave Fennoy as Lee Everett (Telltale’s The Walking Dead) and Nick Fury (Ultimate Spider-Man)
Dave Fennoy is one of the most well known African American voice actors in video game history. As such, he is behind two beloved African American characters: Lee Everett and Nick Fury. Everett quickly became a fan favorite when Telltale debuted the first few episodes of their Walking Dead series, leading many fans to wonder where they had heard that distinct voice before. Keen Spider-Man fans would be able to recognize it from the Xbox 360 title Ultimate Spider-Man, in which he plays the badass director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury. Fennoy later reprised the role in the 2006 release of Spider-Man: Battle for New York.
Steve Blum as Urdnot Grunt (Mass Effect Series) and Green Lantern (Injustice 2)
The Green Lantern Corp is filled with uniquely shaped creatures from throughout the galaxy. So much so that we wonder if they could sneak a Krogan into their ranks without anyone noticing that Mass Effect takes place in a different universe. For now, we’ll have to settle for the fact that Steve Blum is responsible for both the voices of The Green Lantern and Mass Effect’s Grunt. If you listen to the two characters, you definitely wouldn't be able to tell they were voiced by the same person. Grunt has a considerably gruff voice, matching the rest of the male Krogan, while Hal’s voice is far more mellow and casual.
Brian Bloom as Black Mask (Batman: Arkham Origins) and William "B.J." Blazkowicz (Wolfenstein Series)
It is harder to find two characters on different sides of the spectrum than Roman “Black Mask” Sionis and William “B.J.” Blazkowicz. Where Mask reveals in hate and greed, Blazkowicz sacrifices his own livelihood for the sake of freedom. While you may be wondering when Bloom voiced Black Mask, look no further than the underrated Batman: Arkham Origins, in which he plays a lead antagonist. It’s easy to forget that Bloom was the voice of a villain, as his voice is now synonymous with the Nazi killing patriot known as B.J. Blazkowicz.
Alastair Duncan as Mimir (God of War) and Celebrimbor (Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor)
Alastair Duncan certainly loves playing fantasy characters with a regal stature. In recent years, Duncan has performed two infamous supporting roles, one as the Norse God of Knowledge and Wisdom, Mimir, and the other as Celebrimbor, the spirit of an elf lord. While each character is a powerful presence within their respective universe, their personalities are certainly different. Mimir possesses a cheery and sarcastic attitude, while Celebrimbor is rough and serious. Both don’t inhabit a body of their own though, as Mimir is beheaded and Celebrimbor inhabits the body of Talion the ranger.
Tara Strong as Rikku (Final Fantasy Series) and Harley Quinn (The Arkham Series)
Whether it's anime or games, Tara Strong’s high pitched voice is synonymous with Harley Quinn. She plays a pivotal role as a supporting antagonist throughout the Arkham series. But did you know Strong also voiced Rikku from Final Fantasy? Rikku was introduced in Final Fantasy X, joining the cast as a happy-go-lucky character who, similar to Quinn, turned heads with her unique look. While both characters are peppy and not afraid to speak their mind, they do end up on the opposite side of the sanity spectrum.
Michael Gough as Shrek (Shrek games) and The Carmine Siblings (Gears of War Series)
Shrek is one of the many movies to attempt to tie in a video game series with the films theatrical release. And just like the unique bit of trivia regarding Shrek’s voice in the film, as he was supposed to be played by Chris Farley instead of Mike Myers, the game also has some interesting ties when talking about the voice of Shrek. Michael Gough, the voice of Shrek throughout each game in the series, is best known for lending his voice to a character that dies in almost every Gears of War game: The Carmine Siblings. Those roles include Anthony, Benjamin, and Clayton. Of the three, only Clayton survives, albeit after a few close calls and fakeouts.
About the author
Andrew McMahon
Andrew was Twinfinite's Features Editor from 2020 through until March 2023 and wrote for the site from 2018. He has wandered around with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications sitting in his back pocket for a while now, all the while wondering what he is going to do for a career. Luckily, video games have always been there, especially as his writing career progresses.
