Acting Out: Celebrities Who Should Lend Their Voices to Video Games

When it comes to celebrities versus voice actors doing voice-overs in video games, I’m inclined to favor voice actors. But as we’ve seen in films like Kung Fu Panda, the Shrek series, and even the various Pixar movies, some celebrities can do voice acting pretty well. A few famous actors, such as Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson, have even lent their voices to video games. I could go on and on about who I’d like to see do some video game voice work, but here’s a short list of celebrities I’m eager to hear in games.

"Prison sucks."

Kiefer Sutherland - Watch the movie Phone Booth and I think you’ll understand, but for me, the film that convinced me of Sutherland’s voice acting potential was the cult anime film Armitage III: Poly Matrix. Since then, I’ve wanted to see/hear him do more voice acting. I could see him bringing a little Jack Bower attitude to a shooter like Call of Duty, or getting back to his Lost Boys roots in a Castlevania game.

"You're an idiot!"

Hugh Laurie - If you heard Laurie do Dr. House and then talk normally, you’d think they were two different people. It would be interesting to see what kind of variety of voices he can do, and video games could give him a variety of character-types to choose from. As was already suggested, I bet he could do a great Gordon Freeman from Half-Life, if the silent protagonist ever wanted to speak up.

Freeman is God...in Bruce Almighty.

Morgan Freeman - A gifted actor with a voice that can be powerful (Lean On Me), or mysterious (Seven), or even gentle (Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty), Freeman is probably one of the most gifted actors of our times, and somewhat unrecognized for his talent. With a résumé of films many gamers are likely to have seen, and having narrated various books on tape and March of the Penguins, Freeman would be ideal for doing voices in games.

So that's how Ozzy got that frog in his throat.

Ozzy Osbourne - I admit that half the time I can’t understand him, and the other half takes me a few minutes to figure out, but Ozzy’s voice is clearly unique. Lately Ozzy has been showing a good sense of humor by being in a Samsung commercial that pokes fun at how he talks, and he’s even promoting World of Warcraft. Regardless of what the Lich King says, when the real Prince of Darkness is involved in something, people listen (look at Ozzfest). So if Ozzy is showing an interest in games like WoW, maybe he would be interested in actually doing voice work for them. Since she’ll probably be there anyway, I say let Sharon in on the fun, too.

Oka did what every geek dreams of: hung out with a cheerleader.

Masi Oka - Unlike the cast of The Big Bang Theory, Oka has actually made being a geek look cool. This Heroes star has had a wide array of experience in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera; he actually worked on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Star Wars Episodes 1-3 as a digital effects artist with Industrial Lights and Magic (George Lucas’s other baby/gravy train). Oka would probably enjoy being a video game character and be just as thrilled to be one as any of us would, so I say let him.

Whose voice would you like to hear in a video game? Leave your choices in the comments section.