David Bateson

Last updated

David Bateson
Born (1960-02-09) 9 February 1960 (age 64)
Durban, South Africa
NationalityBritish
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1994–present
Known forVoice of Agent 47 in Hitman

David Bateson (born 9 February 1960) is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for providing the voice of Agent 47, the protagonist of IO Interactive's stealth video game series Hitman , having played the role since the year 2000 in each of the franchise's eight main games. He has also served as a voice for commercials advertising various Lego brands. [1]

Contents

Biography

Bateson was born on 9 February 1960, in Durban, South Africa, to English parents. [2] He entered the acting profession before returning to the UK in 1984. He later moved to Canada and now lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is also a full member of British Equity and Danish Actors' Union. [3]

He landed his first role[ citation needed ] in the 1994 film Prince of Jutland as Hother. 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.

In the Hitman game series, Bateson provided the voice of Agent 47 and in every entry in the series until the fifth game, Hitman: Absolution , when he stated to a member of a Hitman fan forum that "No one from IO Interactive is answering my calls, e-mails or SMS." [4] Bateson would later officially confirm on his personal website that he had been "unceremoniously dropped from the franchise", and added that he was unable to make further comments due to "legal reasons". [5] Bateson did eventually return as the voice of Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution. [6] [7] On 16 June 2015, just one day after the announcement of Hitman (2016), Bateson confirmed that he would once again be voicing Agent 47 in the new title via Twitter. [8]

Bateson also voiced Virgil in the 2020 indie game Lightmatter, his first non-Hitman video game voice role. [9]

Bateson voiced the Nintendo video game character Bowser in the Danish dub of the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie (dubbing Jack Black's voice role). [10] [11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Prince of Jutland Hother
1996 Breaking the Waves Young Sailor
2000 Help! I'm a Fish Commander Shark, General Crab [12] Voice
2002One Hell of a ChristmasTommy
2003 Stealing Rembrandt Stor Mand
2008 Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms Jimmy, Manager, Nature Speaker [12] Voice
2009HeadhunterDr. Leipmann
2011 Freddy Frogface Bardini, Blacksmith, Carlo Androkles, Ole Antonioni [12] Voice
2012Ivan the IncredibleButcher, Teacher, Grumpy Fisherman [12] Voice
2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Bowser [10] [11] Voice, Danish dub

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Hitman: Codename 47 Agent 47 [12]
2002 Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Agent 47, Agent 17
2004 Hitman: Contracts Agent 47 [12]
2006 Hitman: Blood Money
2012 Hitman: Absolution
2016 Hitman
2018 Hitman 2
2020LightmatterVirgil [13]
2021 Hitman 3 Agent 47

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luigi</span> Video game character

Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario. Defined by his kind-hearted, yet cowardly demeanor, Luigi appears in many games throughout the Mario franchise, oftentimes accompanying his brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario</span> Video game character

Mario is a character created by the Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the title character of the Mario franchise and the mascot of the Japanese video game company Nintendo. Mario is an Italian plumber who resides in the Mushroom Kingdom with his younger twin brother, Luigi. Their adventures generally center on rescuing Princess Peach from the villain Bowser while using power-ups that give them different abilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Peach</span> Video game character

Princess Peach Toadstool is a character in Nintendo's Mario franchise, created by Shigeru Miyamoto and introduced in the 1985 original Super Mario Bros. installment. She is the princess regnant and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom, where she resides in her castle along with Toads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bowser</span> Video game character

Bowser, also known as King Bowser or King Koopa, is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in Nintendo's Mario franchise. In Japan, his title is Daimaō. He is the arch-nemesis of the plumber Mario, and the leader of the turtle-like Koopa race. Bowser's defining traits are his monstrous appearance with dragon-like elements, full-throated roar, fire-breathing abilities, and tyrannical personality. His ultimate goals are to kidnap Princess Peach and conquer the Mushroom Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voice acting</span> Performing voice-overs to represent a character or provide information

Voice acting is the art of performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent. Voice acting is recognized as a specialized dramatic profession in the United Kingdom, primarily due to BBC broadcasts of radio drama production.

Hitman is a stealth video game franchise created by IO Interactive. In each installment, players assume the role of a cloned contract killer named Agent 47, who travels around the world to assassinate various targets that are assigned to him by the fictional International Contract Agency (ICA). Gameplay focuses on freedom of approach, with most levels placing the player in a large sandbox location where they have free rein to explore and find different ways to reach and eliminate their targets. Stealth is a major component of the gameplay and players are given various tools to accomplish their objectives, such as suppressed weaponry and the ability to take disguises, which allow 47 to blend in with non-player characters (NPCs) and bypass most restricted areas undetected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith David</span> American actor (born 1956)

Keith David Williams is an American actor. He is known for his deep voice and screen presence in over 300 roles across film, stage, television, and interactive media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Mapother</span> American actor (born 1965)

William Reibert Mapother Jr. is an American actor, known for his role as Ethan Rom on the television series Lost and starring in the film In the Bedroom. He is also known for the film Another Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Gries</span> American actor, writer, director

Jonathan Gries is an American actor, writer, and director. He is best known for the role of Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, and recurring character Roger Linus on Lost. He is also known for his roles in Martin, The Pretender, The Monster Squad, Running Scared, Real Genius, Dream Corp LLC, Get Shorty, and The White Lotus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agent 47</span> Fictional Hitman character

Agent 47 is a fictional character, the protagonist and the player character of the Hitman video game franchise, developed by IO Interactive. He has been featured in all games of the series, as well as various spin-off media, including two theatrically released films, a series of comics, and two novels. He has been voiced by actor David Bateson in every main entry in the series since its inception in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Oppenheimer</span> American actor

Alan Oppenheimer is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s and he has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s.

Vlasta Vrána is a Canadian actor of Czech descent.

<i>Hitman: Absolution</i> 2012 video game

Hitman: Absolution is a 2012 stealth video game developed by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix's European branch. It is the fifth installment in the Hitman series and the sequel to 2006's Hitman: Blood Money. Before release, the developers stated that Absolution would be easier to play and more accessible, while still retaining hardcore aspects of the franchise. The game was released on 20 November 2012 for Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. On 15 May 2014, Hitman: Absolution – Elite Edition was released for OS X by Feral Interactive; it contains all previously released downloadable content, including Hitman: Sniper Challenge, a "making of" documentary, and a 72-page artbook. On 11 January 2019, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released enhanced versions of Absolution and Blood Money for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as part of the Hitman HD Enhanced Collection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilou Asbæk</span> Danish actor

Johan Philip "Pilou" Asbæk is a Danish actor, best known for his role as troubled spin doctor Kasper Juul in the Danish television political drama Borgen, and as Euron Greyjoy in the television series Game of Thrones.

<i>Hitman</i> (2016 video game) 2016 stealth video game

Hitman is a 2016 stealth video game developed by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix. The game, which has six episodes, is the sixth mainline entry in the Hitman franchise, the first installment of the World of Assassination trilogy, and the successor to Hitman: Absolution (2012). The single-player story follows genetically engineered assassin Agent 47 as he goes on a worldwide adventure and solves a mysterious series of seemingly unconnected assassinations. Hitman features a number of large, open-ended sandboxes that Agent 47 can freely explore. The game presents the player with various assassination opportunities, many of which are unconventional. IO Interactive introduced a "live component" to the game with new content being regularly delivered in downloadable form.

Michael B. Pollock is an American voice actor and former radio personality, best known as the voice of Doctor Eggman in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise since 2003. He voiced many characters in various anime English dubs and video games. He voiced the narrator, Raoul Contesta and Drayden in the Pokémon series, Adon Coborlwitz from Berserk, Meat from Ultimate Muscle, Langston Lickatoad from Viva Piñata, Suikyou from the Ikki Tousen series and Beast in the motion comic adaptation of Astonishing X-Men.

Events in 1958 in animation.

<i>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</i> 2023 American animated film

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a 2023 American animated adventure comedy film based on Nintendo's Mario video game franchise. Produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo, and distributed by Universal, it was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic and written by Matthew Fogel. The ensemble voice cast includes Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, and Fred Armisen. The film features an origin story for the brothers Mario and Luigi, Italian-American plumbers who are separated after being transported to an alternate world and become entangled in a battle between the Mushroom Kingdom, led by Princess Peach, and the Koopas, led by Bowser.

References

  1. "'Hitman' Voice Actor David Bateson Reveals His Real-Life Hitman Past". Player.One. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  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.
  3. "Complete CV for David Bateson". Official website of David Bateson. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. Beefjack.com Archived 11 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Home". Davidbateson.dk. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  6. Usher, William (2012). "David Bateson Returns To Voice Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution". Cinema Blend.
  7. Rougeau, Michael (25 October 2012). ""Hitman: Absolution" Goes on US Tour, Creepy Guy From "Lost" is Playing as Agent 47". Complex .
  8. 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.
  9. "Lightmatter - Let's Play Lightmatter: David Bateson - Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. 1 2 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.
  11. 1 2 David Bateson [@ImDavidBateson] (6 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.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Behind the Voice Actors – David Bateson". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  13. "Lightmatter on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 7 December 2019.