David Bateson

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David Bateson
Born (1960-02-09) 9 February 1960 (age 65)
Durban, South Africa
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present

David Bateson (born 9 February 1960) is an English actor who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He is best known for providing the voice of Agent 47, the protagonist of IO Interactive's stealth game series Hitman , having played the role since 2000 in each of the franchise's eight main games.

Contents

Early life

David Bateson was born in Durban on 9 February 1960 to his English parents. [1] He has said that the family moved between South Africa and England at least 13 times and that he attended nine schools overall, which "made [him] a little confused as to [his] identity for a while". [1]

Career

Bateson landed his first role when he played Hother in the 1994 film Prince of Jutland .[ citation needed ] He also played the part of a young sailor in the 1996 film Breaking the Waves , along with the main role in the 2002 short film Debutanten. He also acted alongside Mads Mikkelsen in the 1999 short film Tom Merritt, and would again act with Mikkelsen in a 2025 update for Hitman: World of Assassination . [2]

Bateson's most notable role is that of Agent 47, the protagonist of IO Interactive's stealth game series Hitman . He has provided the voice and motion capture for the character in every entry in the series since 2000. [3] Bateson landed the role after doing voiceover for another project in the same building that housed IO Interactive's studio for Hitman: Codename 47. [4] Despite bearing an uncanny resemblance, he has refuted the popular belief that Agent 47's physical appearance was based on him, dismissing it as a coincidence. [5] Addressing fan backlash following the revelation that he had been replaced without warning by American actor William Mapother for Hitman: Absolution , Bateson revealed that IO Interactive were ignoring his efforts to contact them [6] and later confirmed on his website that he had been "unceremoniously dropped from the franchise" but was unable to comment further for "legal reasons". [7] He was rehired for the voice role before the game's release, though Mapother's motion capture work remained intact. [8] [9] Despite the major setback, Bateson said in June 2025 that Absolution is his favorite game in the Hitman series. [10] Mapother returned for the subsequent game to voice Dino Bosco, an arrogant Italian actor Agent 47 must kill.

Bateson voiced Virgil in the 2020 indie game Lightmatter, his first non-Hitman video game voice role. [11] He voiced Bowser in the Danish dub of the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie , dubbing Jack Black's voice. [12] [13] He has also worked extensively in Danish television series and narrated various Lego commercials.

Personal life

Bateson previously lived in Canada,[ citation needed ] England, and South Africa; he is now a long-time resident of Denmark, where he is based in Copenhagen, holds Danish citizenship, and speaks fluent Danish. [12] [13] He is a member of both the British and Danish actors' unions. [14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Prince of Jutland Hother
1996 Breaking the Waves Young Sailor
1999Tom MerrittTom MerrittShort flim
2000 Help! I'm a Fish Commander Shark, General Crab [15] Voice
2002One Hell of a ChristmasTommy
2003 Stealing Rembrandt Stor Mand
2008 Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms Jimmy, Manager, Nature Speaker [15] Voice
2009HeadhunterDr. Leipmann
2011 Freddy Frogface Bardini, Blacksmith, Carlo Androkles, Ole Antonioni [15] Voice
2012 Ivan the Incredible Butcher, Teacher, Grumpy Fisherman [15] Voice
2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Bowser [12] [13] Voice, Danish dub

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Hitman: Codename 47 Agent 47 [15]
2002 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Agent 47, Agent 17
2004 Hitman: Contracts Agent 47 [15]
2006 Hitman: Blood Money
2012 Hitman: Absolution
2016 Hitman
2018 Hitman 2
2020LightmatterVirgil [16]
2021 Hitman 3 Agent 47

Television

References

  1. 1 2 "Agent 47 Speaks! An Interview With David Bateson". Thegamingliberty.com. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  2. ↑ ""I got to shag his wife and kill him, so let's see what happens in the game": 26 years before becoming David Bateson's target in Hitman, Mads Mikkelsen worked with the Agent 47 actor on a Danish short film". Yahoo Entertainment. 7 June 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  3. ↑ David Bateson [@ImDavidBateson] (16 June 2015). "@Metalchamp1995 yo Mario - yes I am! I'm just relieved to be able to say it out loud. Can't wait" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ Andy Kelly (25 February 2021). "David Bateson on 20 years of playing Hitman's Agent 47: 'He's my best friend!'". PC Gamer. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
  5. ↑ "Hitman Absolution Q&A: The Voice of Agent 47". YouTube . 27 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Beefjack.com Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Home". Davidbateson.dk. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Usher, William (2012). "David Bateson Returns To Voice Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution". Cinema Blend.
  9. ↑ Rougeau, Michael (25 October 2012). ""Hitman: Absolution" Goes on US Tour, Creepy Guy From "Lost" is Playing as Agent 47". Complex .
  10. ↑ Fall Damage (25 June 2025). "Can Agent 47 Remember His Iconic Lines?". YouTube. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  11. ↑ "Lightmatter - Let's Play Lightmatter: David Bateson - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 Henry, Joshua (8 April 2023). "Agent 47 Is the Voice Actor of Bowser in the Danish Dub of The Super Mario Bros. Movie". The Gamer. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 David Bateson [@ImDavidBateson] (7 April 2023). "This may come as a surprise- but I am Bowzer in the Danish version of the new Super Mario Bros film. Thank you @iyunohq and @NintendoAmerica I'm the Danish #JackBlack Cool!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 April 2023– via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "Complete CV for David Bateson". Official website of David Bateson. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Behind the Voice Actors – David Bateson". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  16. ↑ "Lightmatter on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
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