Nolan North
{{short description|American actor (born 1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nolan North
| image = Nolan North SDCC 2019 %2848378697517%29 %28cropped%29.jpg
| alt =
| caption = North in 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|October 31, 1970}}
| birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
| occupation = Actor, voice actor
| years_active = 1997–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Jill Murray|1999}}
| children = 2
| signature = Nolan North signature.svg
}}
Nolan North (born October 31, 1970){{cite AV media |date=October 31, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIrI-lPsvcU |title=Nolan North and Troy Baker aren't Scared in the Scary Silent HiIl |publisher=CouchSoup |via=YouTube |access-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420121429/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIrI-lPsvcU |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |url-status=live}} is an American actor best known for his voice acting roles.
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, Iron Man 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 the titular character in Blaze and the Monster Machines.
Early life
North was born in New Haven, Connecticut.{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=+givenname:%22Nolan+Ramsey%22~++surname:North~|title=FamilySearch|website=familysearch.org|access-date=July 23, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420121359/https://www.familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=+givenname:%22Nolan+Ramsey%22~++surname:North~|url-status=live}} He was grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he attended and played baseball at Bishop Hendricken High School.{{cite tweet |last=North |first=Nolan |author-link=Nolan North |user=nolan_north |number=610841172659957760 |date=June 16, 2015 |title="@SoSofieFatale: @nolan_north did you go to high school in RI by chance?" Yep! Bishop Hendricken. |language=en |access-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426141431/https://twitter.com/nolan_north/status/610841172659957760 |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |url-status=live}} He majored in journalism with a baseball scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,{{cite web |url=http://www.soapcentral.com/pc/theactors/north.php |title=Soap Central bio |work=Soap Central |access-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-date=March 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324184311/http://www.soapcentral.com/pc/theactors/north.php |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/213578/the-man-behind-nathan-drake-i-get-paid-to-do-what-used-to-get-me-detention/ |title=The man behind Nathan Drake |author=Blake Snow |date=January 14, 2010 |magazine=Gamepro |access-date=June 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926214839/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/213578/the-man-behind-nathan-drake-i-get-paid-to-do-what-used-to-get-me-detention/|archive-date=September 26, 2010}} 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.
Career
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. 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.
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),{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/06/psx-2014-uncharted-4-gameplay-shows-off-new-mechanics |title=PSX 2014: Uncharted 4 Gameplay Shows Off New Mechanics – IGN |date=December 6, 2014 |publisher=IGN |access-date=December 6, 2014 |archive-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141208014812/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/06/psx-2014-uncharted-4-gameplay-shows-off-new-mechanics |url-status=live }} 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". For his role as Drake, North was twice been nominated at the Spike Video Game Awards in the "Best Performance by a Human Male" category.{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/2011-spike-video-game-awards-complete-winners-list/ |title=2011 Spike Video Game Awards: Complete Winners List |last=Keyes |first=Rob |date=December 10, 2011 |website=Game Rant |access-date=December 10, 2011 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207041839/https://gamerant.com/2011-spike-video-game-awards-complete-winners-list/ |url-status=live }}
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.{{cite news |last=Kain |first=Erik |date=July 17, 2018 |title=Nathan Fillion Isn't Voicing Cayde-6 In Destiny 2's 'Forsaken' DLC |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2018/07/17/nathan-fillion-isnt-voicing-cayde-6-in-destiny-2s-forsaken-dlc/?sh=6dcdcbcb21e4 |work=Forbes |access-date=July 17, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203206/https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2018/07/17/nathan-fillion-isnt-voicing-cayde-6-in-destiny-2s-forsaken-dlc/?sh=6dcdcbcb21e4 |url-status=live }}
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. 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."
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".{{cite web | url = http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/games-special-award-2018 | title = BAFTA to Honour Nolan North with Special Award | date = May 11, 2018 | access-date = May 11, 2018 | publisher = British Academy of Film and Television Arts | archive-date = May 11, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180511215008/http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/games-special-award-2018 | url-status = live }}
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.{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: Nolan North and Troy Baker take 'convention circuit'-born Retro Replay to Rooster Teeth|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/exclusive-nolan-north-troy-baker-retro-replay-rooster-teeth|last=Oller|first=Jacob|date=April 24, 2019|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615113054/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/exclusive-nolan-north-troy-baker-retro-replay-rooster-teeth|url-status=live}} Baker left Retro Replay in April 2020, due to an apparent disagreement on the future direction of the series.{{Cite web|title=Troy Baker has left Retro Replay|url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/troy-baker-has-left-retro-replay/|last=Hirsilä|first=Markus|website=Gamereactor UK|date=April 23, 2020 |language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308131505/https://www.gamereactor.eu/troy-baker-has-left-retro-replay/|url-status=live}} The following month, North announced that the series was ending its partnership with Rooster Teeth.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj46NNMaifY&t=2m2s | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211108/tj46NNMaifY| archive-date=November 8, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Nolan North Live From Quarantine! |last=North |first=Nolan |work=Retro Replay |time=2:02 |date=May 7, 2020 |access-date=May 18, 2020 }}{{cbignore}} He had a brief cameo in the 2022 Uncharted film adaptation and also narrated the audiobook edition.{{cite web|last=Moreau|first=Jordan|date=February 9, 2022|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/uncharted-nolan-north-book-1235175555/|title='Uncharted' Audio Book to Be Narrated by Voice Actor Nolan North (EXCLUSIVE)|publisher=Variety|accessdate=February 18, 2017|archive-date=February 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209215434/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/uncharted-nolan-north-book-1235175555/|url-status=live}} In 2024, he appeared as Gene Campbell in the Peacock television series Hysteria!.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/garret-dillahunt-nolan-north-cast-peacock-satanic-panic-series-hysteria-1235840792/|title=Garret Dillahunt, Nolan North, Elijah Richardson Among 6 Cast In Peacock’s Satanic Panic Thriller Series ‘Hysteria!’|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=February 28, 2024|access-date=November 29, 2024|archive-date=September 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912110720/https://deadline.com/2024/02/garret-dillahunt-nolan-north-cast-peacock-satanic-panic-series-hysteria-1235840792/|url-status=live}}
Personal life
North married his Port Charles co-star Jill Murray on June 4, 1999. They have two children together.{{Cite web|url = https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-hidden-king-meet-nolan-north-the-biggest-voice-in-video-games/|title = The Hidden King: Meet Nolan North, the Biggest Voice in Video Games|date = September 15, 2015|access-date = May 21, 2020|archive-date = June 6, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200606160051/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/the-hidden-king-meet-nolan-north-the-biggest-voice-in-video-games/|url-status = live}}
Filmography
{{Main|Nolan North filmography}}
Accolades
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 (2010–2022) and Transformers: Prime (2010–2013).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636046/awards|title=Nolan North – Awards|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222002538/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636046/awards|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Result |
|---|
| scope="row"| 2016
| Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Best Performance | {{won}} {{end}} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Result |
| scope="row" | 2012
| Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | rowspan="3"|Best Performer | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2013
| Uncharted: Golden Abyss | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2017
| Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2018
| Nolan North | Special Award | {{won}} {{end}} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Result |
| scope="row" | 2010
| Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2012
| Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2017
| Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | Outstanding Achievement in Character | {{nom}} {{end}} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Result |
| scope="row" | 2009
| Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Best Voice | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" | 2011
| Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | Best Performance by a Human Male | {{nom}} {{end}} ;Behind the Voice Actors Awards {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" style="width:25em;"| Nominated work ! scope="col" style="width:40em;"| Category ! scope="col" style="width:5em;"| Result |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2012
| rowspan="2"|Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | {{nom}} |
| Voice Actor of the Year, People's Choice
| {{won}} |
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game
| Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2013
| Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | {{nom}} |
| Young Justice
| Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Television Series, Action/Drama | {{nom}} |
| Transformers: Prime
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role, Action/Drama | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2014
| Nolan North | Voice Actor of the Year | {{nom}} |
| Deadpool
| Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game | {{nom}} |
| rowspan="2"|The Last of Us
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game in a Supporting Role | {{nom}} |
| Best Male Vocal Performance in a Video Game in a Supporting Role, People's Choice
| {{won}} |
| scope="row"| 2015
| rowspan="2"|Nolan North | rowspan="2"|Voice Actor of the Year | {{nom}} |
| scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2017
| {{nom}} |
| Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
| Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game | {{won}} |
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
{{cite web | first = Fred | last = Dutton | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-21-nolan-north-wins-part-in-star-trek-2-off-the-back-of-uncharted | title = Nolan North wins part in Star Trek 2 off the back of Uncharted | publisher = Eurogamer | date = May 21, 2012 | access-date = May 24, 2012 | archive-date = May 24, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120524040623/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-21-nolan-north-wins-part-in-star-trek-2-off-the-back-of-uncharted | url-status = live }}
}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{BTVA person}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:North, Nolan}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American comedy YouTubers
Category:American gaming YouTubers
Category:American impressionists (entertainers)
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male video game actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Bishop Hendricken High School alumni
Category:Comedians from Connecticut
Category:Male actors from New Haven, Connecticut
Category:North Carolina Tar Heels baseball players
Category:The Game Awards winners
Category:UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media alumni