Nolan North (born October 31, 1970)[1] is an American actor best known for his voice acting roles.
Nolan North | |
---|---|
Born | New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | October 31, 1970
Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor |
Years active | 1997–present |
Spouse |
Jill Murray (m. 1999) |
Children | 2 |
Signature | |
After his breakthrough role as Dr. Chris Ramsey on the ABC soap opera Port Charles in 1997, North moved into voice acting when the show ended in 2003 and has since become best known for his video game roles as Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series, Desmond Miles in the Assassin's Creed series, Merasmus in Team Fortress 2, the Prince in Prince of Persia, Dr. Edward Richtofen in the Call of Duty franchise, Deadpool in various Marvel Comics media, the Penguin in the Batman: Arkham franchise, Captain Martin Walker in Spec Ops: The Line, David in The Last of Us, himself as one of the voices for the player character in Saints Row IV, Tony Stark in Marvel's Avengers, and Ghost in the Destiny video game series.
In animation, North voices Smokescreen on Transformers: Prime, Superboy on Young Justice, and Blaze on Blaze and the Monster Machines.
North was born in New Haven, Connecticut.[2] He was raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he attended and played baseball at Bishop Hendricken High School.[3] He majored in journalism with a baseball scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,[4][5] and spent the next year working as a reporter in New Jersey before moving to New York City to pursue a career in stand-up comedy and acting.[4]
North eventually relocated to Los Angeles, where he was cast as Dr. Chris Ramsey in the General Hospital spin-off series Port Charles in 1997.[5] He worked as a voice actor on a few video games during this time, and began to focus on this career path following the cancellation of Port Charles in 2003.[5]
One of North's most notable voice roles came in 2007, when he voiced and performed motion capture for the protagonist Nathan Drake in the video game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Since then, he has continued to portray the character in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (2011), and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016),[6] as well as the PlayStation Vita exclusive Uncharted: Golden Abyss (2012). In an interview with The Guardian, he said his time as Drake requires "a lot of imagination" because "motion capture is basically theatre in spandex; there's minimal props, and you need a willingness to make an ass of yourself".[7] For his role as Drake, he has twice been nominated at the Spike Video Game Awards in the "Best Performance by a Human Male" category.[8]
North's other notable video game voice roles include the Prince in Prince of Persia and Desmond Miles in the Assassin's Creed series. He also voiced Vossler in Final Fantasy XII, Eradan in Lord of the Rings: War in the North, the male Jedi Consular in Star Wars: The Old Republic and its following expansions, David in The Last of Us, Dr. Edward Richtofen in the "Zombies" mode of the Call of Duty series, Brawl in Transformers: War for Cybertron, and Ghost Rider in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, as well as Shadow Demon, Lycan, Lone Druid, Brewmaster, Gyrocopter, Ogre Magi, Meepo, Earth Spirit, Troll Warlord, and the Keeper of the Light in Dota 2. He voices various Team Fortress 2 characters such as the Engineer (partially), Merasmus, Redmond Mann, Blutarch Mann, Zepheniah Mann, and the Bombinomicon. He also replaced Peter Dinklage as the voice of the Ghost in Destiny: The Taken King, and additionally re-recorded all of Dinklage's lines from the base game Destiny. He continues to voice the character in subsequent releases. Following the release of Destiny 2: Forsaken, he portrayed not only Ghost but also took over the role of Cayde-6 from Nathan Fillion.[9]
In the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness, North made one of his few increasingly rare live-action appearances since becoming a voice actor. Director J. J. Abrams had cited North's performance as Drake in the decision to cast him as a starship helmsman, as he and his son are fans of the Uncharted series.[10] In a May 2012 interview, North said, "[Abrams is] a huge fan of gaming and he was telling me how people just don't understand [the medium] yet, but they're going to catch up. They don't understand how amazing this technology is and it doesn't get the respect it deserves, but if it keeps making the money it makes you're going to see more and more people converted. I mean, Gary Oldman, one of the greatest actors on the planet, did Call of Duty. He wouldn't have done it 10 years ago. It's a new age dawning, and I'm just really proud to be part of it."[10]
North's animation roles include the voices of Cyclops in Wolverine and the X-Men, Snow Job in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Raphael in TMNT, both Superboy and Superman in Young Justice, and Smokescreen in Transformers: Prime. He has also voiced Blaze in Blaze and the Monster Machines since 2014. He was honored at a special event hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts during the 2018 EA Expo, where he was given a special award for "outstanding contribution to performance in games".[11]
In April 2018, North began hosting Retro Replay with fellow voice actor and frequent co-star Troy Baker. The show, which featured the two playing games in which they were involved while giving behind-the-scenes commentary on the making of the games, partnered with Rooster Teeth in April 2019.[12] Baker left Retro Replay in April 2020, due to an apparent disagreement on the future direction of the show.[13] The following month, North announced that the show was ending its partnership with Rooster Teeth.[14] He had a brief cameo in the 2022 Uncharted film adaptation and also narrated the audiobook edition.[15]
North married his Port Charles co-star Jill Murray on June 4, 1999.[4] They have two children together.[4][16]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Déjà Vu | Ex-Fiancé | ||
2007 | TMNT | Raphael / Nightwatcher | [17] | |
2008 | Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief | Parrot | ||
2012 | The Outback | Hex | [17] | |
Back to the Sea | Farley | [17] | ||
The Reef 2: High Tide | Bobby | [17] | ||
Dino Time | Morris, Guard #3 | [17] | ||
2015 | The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water | Seagull, Dead Parrot, Pigeon Cabbie | ||
2019 | Birds of a Feather | Yusuf | [17] | |
The Angry Birds Movie 2 | Terence | [17] | ||
2021 | The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf | Vendor, Knight | [17] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | The Legend of Tarzan | Scox | ||
2006 | Ben 10 | Henchman, Teen Attendant | Episode: "A Small Problem" | [17] |
2006–07 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Exercise Dude, others | Episode: "Waking Nightmare/Beware of the Undertoad" | |
2007 | Back at the Barnyard | Stumpity Joe | Episode: "Animal Farmers" | [17] |
2009 | Wolverine and the X-Men | Cyclops, Colossus, Pyro, Berzerker, Carl | ||
Uncharted: Eye of Indra | Nathan Drake | Motion comic | ||
2010 | Fanboy & Chum Chum | Thorvald the Red | ||
Star Wars: The Clone Wars | El-Les | Episode: "Clone Cadets" | [17] | |
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | Balder, Jimmy Woo, Living Laser, Piledriver, Scientist Supreme, Chemistro, Dispatcher, AIM Drones | [17][25] | ||
Black Panther | Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Government Official | [17] | ||
2010–2022 | Young Justice | Superboy, Superman, Zatara, Professor Ojo, Clayface, Marvin White, Baron Bedlam, Lightray, Kru-El, R'ohh K'arr, Ronal, Everyman, additional voices | Nominated – BTVA Award for Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series |
[17] |
2011 | Regular Show | Host, Centaur #2 | Episode: "Party Pete" | [17] |
G.I. Joe: Renegades | Snow Job | Episode: "White Out" | [17] | |
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Young Brad Chiles | |||
Generator Rex | Dr. Branden Moses, Security Guard | |||
2012–13 | Transformers: Prime | Smokescreen, Troopers | [17] | |
2012 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Kraang, Commander Grundch, Lunk, various voices | [17] | |
Robot and Monster | Crikey, Blimey, various voices | [17] | ||
2012–18 | DreamWorks Dragons | Stoick the Vast, various voices | [17] | |
2013–15 | Ultimate Spider-Man | John Jameson / Man-Wolf, Maximus, Gorgon | [17] | |
2013–16 | Sanjay and Craig | Various Voices | [17] | |
2013 | The Legend of Korra | Southern Rebel Tribe Leader | 3 episodes | [17] |
Monsters vs. Aliens | Derek Dietl | Episode: "It Came from Channel 5" | [17] | |
2014–16 | Breadwinners | Oonski the Great, Steven Quackberg, others | [17] | |
TripTank | Various voices | [17] | ||
2014 | Curious George | Hunt Official, Nilguini | ||
Expiration Date | Soldier, Engineer | [26] | ||
2014–present | Rick and Morty | Scroopy Noopers, others | ||
2014–present | Blaze and the Monster Machines | Blaze | Lead role | |
2014–15 | Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. | Gorgon, Maximus, Werewolf by Night | 3 episodes | [17] |
2015 | Pig Goat Banana Cricket | Additional Voices | [17] | |
Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | Supervisor Hong, Mill Worker, Weevil | Episode: "See No Weevil" | [17] | |
Fresh Beat Band of Spies | Sven Frugengeblugen | Episode: "Frozen Fresh Beats" | [17][27] | |
2015–2017 | Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! | Various voices | [17] | |
The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show | Marco Polo, John Sutter, Alexander Cartwright, Jesse James | 5 episodes | [17] | |
2016–18 | Voltron: Legendary Defender | Samuel Holt, Commander Iverson | ||
Guardians of the Galaxy | Gorgon, High Evolutionary, Jesse Alexander, Mech Leader | 8 episodes | [17] | |
Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh | Smek, various voices | [17] | ||
2016–2017 | Avengers Assemble | Gorgon | 2 episodes | [17] |
2017 | Transformers: Titans Return | Metroplex | 3 episodes | [17] |
2017–19 | The Lion Guard | Tamka, Nyuni, Fahari, Krud'dha | [17] | |
2017–present | Spirit Riding Free | Jim Prescott, various voices | [17] | |
2018–2019 | Spider-Man | Silvermane | 2 episodes | [17] |
2018–2020 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Otter, Operator, Were-Tree | 2 episodes | [17] |
2019–21 | Love, Death & Robots | Vladmir, Ugly Dave, Detective Briggs | [17] | |
2019 | The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Cash Networth / Salamangler | ||
2020 | Glitch Techs | Argyle, Tank | Episode: "Alpha Leader" | [17] |
2020–present | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Niko, additional voices | 5 episodes | |
2021 | Pacific Rim: The Black | Marshall Rask | [17] | |
2021 | Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas | Clemenson | ||
2022 | Exception | Lewis | [28] | |
Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight | Rhino Guard, Boat Owner | 2 episodes | [17] | |
2022–2023 | Transformers: EarthSpark | Swindle, Hardtop, various voices | [17] | |
2023 | Pluto | Adolf Haas | English dub | [17] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | On the Doll | Charlie | ||
2008 | Surfer, Dude | Mr. Simons | ||
2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | USS Vengeance Helmsman | ||
I Know That Voice | Himself | Documentary | ||
2022 | Uncharted | Hotel guest | Cameo | [72] |
2023 | The Shift | Brett | ||
2023 | Hayseed | Don Fulcher |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1997–2003 | Port Charles | Dr. Chris Ramsey | Series regular | |
2000 | Broken | Rob McCardel | Short film | |
2001 | Spyder Games | Dr. Horton | 2 episodes | |
2003 | Six Feet Under | Soap Actor | 2 episodes | |
2004 | JAG | ER Intern | Episode: "Hard Time" | |
She Spies | Peter | Episode: "Spies Gone Wild" | ||
2006 | Malcolm in the Middle | Leonard Nimoy | Episode: "Hal Grieves" | |
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | Nigel Hatorff, Simone Moma | 2 episodes | ||
NCIS | Officer Lou Giotti | Episode: "Faking It" | ||
2007 | Ugly Betty | Male Anchor | Episode: "Sofia's Choice" | |
Big Love | Joey's Lawyer | Episode: "Damage Control" | ||
CSI: Miami | Ken Walker | Episode: "Cyber-Lebrity" | ||
Dirty Sexy Money | Walsh | Episode: "The Game" | ||
2009 | Modern Family | Donald Flum | Episode: "En Garde" | |
2009–10 | Melrose Place | Curtis Heller | 2 episodes | |
2010–17 | Pretty Little Liars | Peter Hastings | 28 episodes | |
2012 | Haven | Will Brady | Episode: "Last Goodbyes" | |
2015–17 | Con Man | Jerry Lansing | Web series | |
2016 | Rizzoli & Isles | Phillip Dayton | 2 episodes |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Uncharted film novelization | 2022 | All characters | [15] |
Nolan North has received multiple awards and nominations for his work in the Uncharted series (2007–2016), as well as other video games including Deadpool (2013), The Last of Us (2013), Assassin's Creed II (2009) and the television shows Young Justice (2010–present) and Transformers: Prime (2010–2013).[73]
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Best Performance | Won |
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Best Performer | Nominated |
2013 | Uncharted: Golden Abyss | Nominated | |
2017 | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Nominated | |
2018 | Nolan North | Special Award | Won |
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance | Nominated |
2012 | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance | Nominated |
2017 | Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Outstanding Achievement in Character | Nominated |
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Best Voice | Nominated |
2011 | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Best Performance by a Human Male | Nominated |
Year | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | Nominated |
Voice Actor of the Year, People's Choice | Won | ||
Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Nominated | |
2013 | Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | Nominated |
Young Justice | Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series, Action/Drama | Nominated | |
Transformers: Prime | Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role, Action/Drama | Nominated | |
2014 | Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | Nominated |
Deadpool | Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game | Nominated | |
The Last of Us | Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game in a Supporting Role | Nominated | |
Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game in a Supporting Role, People's Choice | Won | ||
2015 | Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | Nominated |
2017 | Nominated | ||
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game | Won |
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