David Kaye (voice actor)
{{Short description|Canadian voice actor}}
{{Other people||David Kaye (disambiguation){{!}}David Kaye}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = David Kaye
| image = David Kaye at an autograph session at Botcon 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio (Cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Kaye in April 2008
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| occupation = Voice actor
| years_active = 1989–present
| spouse = Maria Hope
| children = 1
| website = {{URL|https://davidkaye.com}}
}}
David Kaye is a Canadian voice actor. He is best known for animation roles such as Megatron in five of the Transformers series (Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Armada, Energon, and Cybertron), Optimus Prime in Transformers: Animated, Professor X in X-Men: Evolution, Cronus in Class of the Titans, Khyber in Ben 10: Omniverse, several characters in Avengers Assemble, and Duckworth in the reboot of DuckTales. He is also known for anime roles including Sesshōmaru in Inuyasha and Treize Khushrenada in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, and video game roles such as Clank in the Ratchet & Clank series and Nathan Hale in the Resistance series. He is also the announcer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO and voiced the Celestial Arishem in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals. He did voice work for various other studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for many years while occasionally doing voice work in Los Angeles, California, US, before fully relocating there in 2007.
Early life
During the 1980s, Kaye moved to Vancouver to work in radio. He also did theatre, playing George in a production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Elwood P. Dowd in a production of Harvey.[http://techjives.net/2012/12/07/069-david-kaye-on-talkin-toons-with-rob-paulsen-weekly-voice-acting-and-voice-over-tips/ 069 – David Kaye on Talkin Toons with Rob Paulsen – Weekly Voice Acting and Voice Over Tips] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830192429/http://techjives.net/2012/12/07/069-david-kaye-on-talkin-toons-with-rob-paulsen-weekly-voice-acting-and-voice-over-tips/ |date=August 30, 2017 }}. techjives.net. December 7, 2012
Career
Kaye's voice acting career began in 1989 with General Hawk in the DiC animated series G.I. Joe. Working as an on-air talent for radio station CKLG (LG73), he quickly became less interested as both on-camera and voice roles started taking up more of his time. On-camera opportunities came in the form of guest roles on TV series and movies such as The X-Files, Battlestar Galactica, and Happy Gilmore. During this time, he was cast in several animation shows and video games, including a role as Megatron in Beast Wars. This began a decades-long relationship with the Transformers franchise. In 2007, Kaye become the first and (as of 2021) only actor in the franchise to play both Megatron and Optimus Prime in regular roles, voicing the latter for Cartoon Network's Transformers: Animated. He also lent his voice to the later series Transformers: Prime and Transformers: Robots in Disguise.
In anime, Kaye has been the voice behind Sesshomaru in the English dubbed InuYasha series, Treize Khushrenada in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Recoome in Dragon Ball Z (1996–98) and as Soun Tendo in Ranma ½. His involvement in anime has led to several appearances at conventions. Kaye later moved to Los Angeles and has since worked on Ben 10: Omniverse as the villain Khyber, on Regular Show as Reginald, and on Xiaolin Chronicles as Clay Bailey, F-Bot, and Chase Young. He has voiced several characters on the Avengers Assemble animated series and Max Tennyson in the reboot of Ben 10. He shared the role of the Stretch Monster with Miguel Ferrer in Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, and also succeeded Ferrer as Vandal Savage in Young Justice: Outsiders following his death.
Kaye also narrates film trailers and network promos for ABC, Fox, The CW, National Geographic, TLC, FX, and others.
Personal life
Kaye and his wife, Maria Hope, have a daughter named Tianna.{{cite web | url=https://instagram.com/p/CBtkNNyjpAX/ | title=Tianna Hope on Instagram: "❤️ Daddy's girl. Happy Father's Day @davidkayevo you're the best! #fathersday" }}
Filmography
=Animation=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1996–1999
| |
| 1997
|Various voices |
| 1997
|Talos |3 episodes |
| 1997
|Head Spectral |Episode: "Where No Sprite Has Gone Before" |
| 1998
|Various voices |
| 1999–2000
|Megatron, Noble | |
| 2000–2001
|Barry, Dave Maven |
| 2000–2006
|Ramon de la Porta, Lex, News Anchor | |
| 2000–2003
|Main role |
| 2003
|Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law |Officers, Police Guard |
| 2005
|data-sort-value="Cramp Twins, The" | The Cramp Twins |Newscaster, Man |
| 2005
|Ansel, Announcer |
| 2005
|Jousting Announcer |
| 2005–2006
|Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island |Bunga Berry, various voices |
| 2006–2008 |
| 2006
|Mauricio |
| 2007
|Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes |Episode: "Shell Games" |
| 2007–2009
|Optimus Prime, Lugnut, Cliffjumper, Grimlock, various voices |
| 2009
|Episode: "Tales of Suspense" |
| 2010
|data-sort-value="Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, The" | The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack |Captain Santiago |Episode: "These Boots Were Made for Walking (On Your Face)" |
| 2010 |
| 2010–2017
|Various voices |
| 2011
|Ben 10/Generator Rex: Heroes United |Shocksquatch |Television film |
| 2012
|General Tandin |
| 2012
|Hardshell, Trooper |
| 2012
|data-sort-value="Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, The" | The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes |
| 2012–2014
|Khyber, Shocksquatch, Cannonbolt, Gravattack, Heatblast, Swampfire, Skurd, Lord Transyl, Sunder, Frankenstrike, Joseph Chadwick, Gar Red Wind, Exo-Skull, Mole-Stache, Mallice, Thumbskull, Deefus Veeblepister, George Washington |
| 2012–2019
|Vision, J.A.R.V.I.S., Baron Zemo, Corvus Glaive, Space Phantom, Blood Brother #1, additional voices |
| 2013–2014
|Clay Bailey, Chase Young, various voices |
| 2013–2014
|{{cite tweet |number=466580146607382529 |user=idiotstyle |title=Ben answers questions on VA roles for Shazam |author=Ben Jones |date=May 14, 2014 |access-date=January 5, 2015}}{{cite tweet |number=412311779612426240 |user=dkayevo |title=Me Bizzaro...no really me play Bizzaro.. Tales of Metropolis: Bizarro |first=David |last=Kaye |date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=December 2, 2015|DC Nation|Cartoon Network: http://youtu.be/1NDIH9sJH50 via @youtube}} |
| 2014
|J.A.R.V.I.S. |
| 2014–2024
|Death, Ferryman, Whimsy Robin, Whimsy Cyborg, Dragon, Wizard of Weakness, Abraham Lincoln, Superman, various voices |
| 2015–2016
|Police Dispatcher, Pilot, Interrogator |
| 2015–2016
|Various voices |
| 2015–2017
|Transformers: Robots in Disguise |Slashmark, Hammerstrike, Race Announcer |
| 2015–2017
|Corvus Glaive, Nova Corps Controller |
| 2015–2019
|Various voices |
| 2016–2021
|Max Tennyson, Lord Decibel, LaGrange, Shock-O, Shock Rock, Humungousaur, various voices |
| 2017–2018
|Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters |Stretch Monster, Epsilon Interviewer |
| 2018
|Legend of the Three Caballeros |Various voices |
| 2018–2021
|Duckworth, Rhutt Betlam |
| 2018–2019
|King Peppy, various voices |
| 2019–2022
|Vandal Savage, Elongated Man, Arion, Ryus Nereus, Steve Lombard, Kirby Jacobs |
| 2019–2022
|Various voices |
| 2020–2022
|Various voices |
| 2021–2022
|He-Man and the Masters of the Universe |{{Cite web |last=Bastos |first=Margarida |date=2021-08-19 |title=First Trailer for Netflix's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Series Reveals the Animated Reboot |url=https://collider.com/he-man-and-the-masters-of-the-universe-netflix-show-trailer-release-date/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Collider |language=en}} |
| rowspan="2"|2024
|Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition |Vision, Hot Dog Suit Vendor |Disney+ Television Special |
| What If...?
|Disney+ Animated Series{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2024 |title=FANTASTIC FOUR project profile final 11-11-24 |url=https://dam.gettyimages.com/thewaltdisneystudios/allaccess/#!asset/gxpvc86gn362bnpv99hnxw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241115141805/https://dam.gettyimages.com/s/2g5nnmw7b5hnqfg4m9tzvt |archive-date=November 15, 2024 |access-date=November 15, 2024 |publisher=The Walt Disney Studios |via=Getty Images}} |
| 2025
|Iron Man and His Awesome Friends |Vision |
=Anime=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1986–1987
|Soichiro Otonashi | |
| 1988–1989
|Narrator, Ancient One | |
| 1989–1991
| |
| 1993
|Kim Kaphwan | |
| 1994–1997
|Tomoyo Wakagi | |
| 1995–1996
| |
| 1997–2001
|Recoome |Ocean Productions dub |
| 1997
|Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge |Pyron | |
| 1998
|Bolt Crank |Episode: "Bye Bye Aimie" |
| 1999–2001
|Monol, Captain Clay, Celius, End Bringer, Moo | |
| 2000–2004
| |
| 2002
|Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex | |
| 2002
|Pairon, Narrator | |
| 2002–2004
| |
| 2003–2004
|Megatron, Galvatron | |
| 2004
|Megatron, Galvatron | |
| 2005–2006
|Megatron, Galvatron | |
| 2020–2021
|Sesshōmaru | |
=Film=
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1997
|JumpStart 1st Grade Math |Captain Hop, Spider Maestro |
| 2002
|Clank, Bob, Blarg Scientist, Scrap Merchant |
| 2003
|Upton Julius, Henchman |
| 2003
|Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando |Clank, Hypnotist Head, Employee |
| 2003
|Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space |Soldiers, Pilots |
| 2004
|Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II |Habdazar Doomwing, Artemis, Dorn Redbear |
| 2004
|Jonathan St. Claire, Graham |
| 2004 |
| 2004
|Clank |
| 2004
|Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal |Clank |
| 2004
|Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask |Sesshomaru |
| 2005
|Ford Cruller, Hulking Lungfish, Captain O'Lungfish |
| 2005
|Sesshomaru |
| 2005
|Clank, Robot C |
| 2007
|Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters |Clank |
| 2007
|Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction |Clank |
| 2009
|O'Grady, Resistance Helicopter Pilot |
| 2009
|Carol |
| 2009
|Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time |Clank |
| 2010 |
| 2011
|Clank |
| 2011
|Logan Carter |
| 2011
|Clank |
| 2011
| |
| 2012
|Khyber, Heatblast, Cannonbolt, Gravattack, Shocksquatch, Arachnoid |
| 2012
|PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale |Clank |
| 2012
|Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault |Clank |
| 2013
|data-sort-value="Cave, The" | The Cave |Weight Guesser, Roulette Barker, Magician |
| 2013
|Logan Carter |
| 2013
|Fuse |Lyndon Burgess, Scientist, Pilot |
| 2013
|data-sort-value="Wolf Among Us, The" | The Wolf Among Us |Dr. Swineheart |
| 2013
|Cannonbolt, Gravattack, Swampfire |
| 2013
|Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus |Clank, Stone Stonefield |
| 2014
|J.A.R.V.I.S., Mysterio | |
| 2015
|Vision | |
| 2016
|Samuel Hocking |
| 2016
|Clank, Dallas Wannamaker, Announcer, Warbot |
| 2017
|Clank |
| 2017
|AEGIS |
| 2017
|Jedah |
| 2019
|Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order |Corvus Glaive, Vision, Mysterio |
| 2021
|Clank |
| 2021
|Ford Cruller, Ride Operator, Strawberry, Audience |
| 2021 |
| 2022
|Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway |Powdered Toast Man |
| 2022
|Remington Kurtzman |
| 2023
|Powdered Toast Man |
| 2023
|Cookie Run: The Darkest Night |Darkest Lord Cookie, Elder Gnome |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.davidkaye.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0443286|name=David Kaye}}
- {{anime News Network|people|926}}
- [http://www.transformertoys.co.uk/content.php?/transformers-gallery/transformers-cartoons-%2f-movies/196/transformers-cartoons-%2f-movies/David+Kaye+-+Jan+2004.html Interview with David Kaye – Jan 2004]
{{Last Week Tonight}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaye, David}}
Category:Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male radio actors
Category:Canadian male stage actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male video game actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Category:Male actors from Ontario
Category:Male actors from Vancouver
Category:Male actors from Los Angeles
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)