Steve Downes

Last updated

Steve Downes
Steve Downes (52263140038) (cropped).jpg
Downes at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2022
Born (1950-06-28) June 28, 1950 (age 74)
Occupation(s) DJ, voice actor
Years active1978–present
Spouse
Liz Zweifler
(m. 1992)
Website stevedownesvo.com

Steven Downes (born June 28, 1950) is an American DJ and voice actor. He is best known for his work as the voice of the Master Chief in the Halo video game series. He worked as a disc jockey at Los Angeles, California Album-oriented Rock radio stations KWST (1978-1981), KEZY-AM (1981-1982) and KLSX (1994), but is best remembered working evening drive at KLOS from 1982 to 1991. He frequently hosted the live call-in talk show, Rockline in the early 1990s. Most recently, he worked as the morning show host for 97.1 WDRV "The Drive" in Chicago, Illinois. [1] Downes also hosts the nationally syndicated radio show "The Classics". He is married to fellow voice actress Liz Zweifler.

Contents

On February 6, 2015, Downes announced that after 44 years in radio he would retire to spend more time with his family; his final show on WDRV was March 9, 2015. He was succeeded by veteran sports/talk radio hosts Dan McNeil and Pete McMurray.

Voice acting

Downes started in commercial voice acting in 1990. He has provided voices for several video games. His first experience in voice acting for video games came in 1999 when he played the role of Gunnar in the video game Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator by Valkyrie Studios. Despite the relatively minor role, his performance caught the attention of the voice acting director and music composer of the game, Martin O'Donnell. When O'Donnell began working on the video game Halo: Combat Evolved at Bungie, he invited Downes to voice the game's main protagonist, Master Chief, a role he has voiced ever since. [2] At GalaxyCon Columbus in December 2023, Downes stated his favorite line as Master Chief is "She said that to me once... about being a machine" from Halo 4. [3]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2012 The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Peter Quill / Star-Lord Episode: "Michael Korvac" [4]

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
1999 Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator Gunnar
2001 Halo: Combat Evolved Spartan John-117 / Master Chief [4]
2004 Halo 2 [4]
2007 Halo 3 [4]
2010 Halo: Reach Firefight voice [4]
2012 Halo 4 [4]
2015 Halo 5: Guardians [4]
2017 Super Bomberman R Xbox One version [4] [5]
2021 Halo Infinite [4]

Related Research Articles

<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 often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animated, off-stage, off-screen, or non-visible characters in various works such as films, dubbed foreign films, anime, television shows, video games, cartoons, documentaries, commercials, audiobooks, radio dramas and comedies, amusement rides, theater productions, puppet shows, and audio games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Kenny</span> American actor (born 1962)

Thomas James Kenny is an American actor and comedian. Since 1999, he has voiced the titular character in SpongeBob SquarePants and associated media. Kenny has voiced many other characters, including Heffer Wolfe in Rocko's Modern Life, the Ice King in Adventure Time and its spinoff Fionna and Cake, the Narrator and Mayor in The Powerpuff Girls, Carl Chryniszzswics in Johnny Bravo, Dog in CatDog, Hank and Jeremy in Talking Tom and Friends, The Penguin in various animated media based on DC Comics, and Spyro from the Spyro video game series. His live action work includes the comedy variety shows The Edge and Mr. Show. Kenny's accolades include two Daytime Emmy Awards and two Annie Awards for his voice work as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Ice King. He is married to fellow voice artist Jill Talley, who plays Karen on SpongeBob SquarePants, with two children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil LaMarr</span> American actor

Phil LaMarr is an American actor. He was one of the original featured cast members on the sketch comedy television series Mad TV, where he stayed for five seasons. His voice acting roles in animated series include the title character of Samurai Jack, both John Stewart / Green Lantern and Virgil Hawkins / Static in the DC Animated Universe, Hermes Conrad in Futurama, and Wilt in Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. LaMarr has also provided voices for video game franchises including Metal Gear, Jak and Daxter, Darksiders, Final Fantasy, Infamous, Dead Island, Kingdom Hearts, and Mortal Kombat. He also voiced Browntooth the Goblin Rogue in the Critical Role episode "The Goblins".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Fillion</span> Canadian–American actor (born 1971)

Nathan Fillion is a Canadian-American actor. He played the leading roles of Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds on Firefly and its film continuation Serenity, and Richard Castle on Castle. As of 2018, he stars as John Nolan on The Rookie and is an executive producer on the show as well as its spin-off series, The Rookie: Feds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">343 Guilty Spark</span> Fictional character from the Halo video game series

343 Guilty Spark, also known as just Spark, is a character in the military science fiction Halo franchise. 343 Guilty Spark plays a major role in the storyline of the original Halo video game trilogy: the character appears in Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, and Halo 3, as well as the remakes of the first two games, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Halo 2: Anniversary. 343 Guilty Spark is voiced by actor Tim Dadabo in all media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDRV</span> Classic rock radio station in Chicago

WDRV is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned by Hubbard Broadcasting and airs a classic rock format. Its studios were originally located in the John Hancock Center. On May 11, 2018, WDRV moved into all new, state-of-the-art, digital studios in Chicago's Prudential Plaza. WDRV's antenna is located atop the Aon Center. The station's programming is simulcast on sister station 96.9 WWDV in Zion, Illinois.

<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">Charlie O'Donnell</span> American journalist and television announcer (1932–2010)

Charles John O'Donnell was an American radio and television announcer, primarily known for his work on game shows, and for his distinctive baritone voice. Among them, he was best known for Wheel of Fortune, where he worked from 1975 to 1980, and again from 1989 until his death. O'Donnell was also known for announcing American Bandstand.

Cortana (<i>Halo</i>) Fictional video game character

Cortana is a fictional artificially intelligent character in the Halo video game series. Voiced by Jen Taylor, she appears in Halo: Combat Evolved and its sequels, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians and Halo Infinite. She also briefly appears in the prequel Halo: Reach, as well as in several of the franchise's novels, comics, and merchandise. During gameplay, Cortana provides backstory and tactical information to the player, who often assumes the role of Master Chief Petty Officer John-117. In the story, she is instrumental in preventing the activation of the Halo installations, which would have destroyed all sentient life in the galaxy.

Master Chief (<i>Halo</i>) Fictional protagonist in the Halo video game series

Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, colloquially known as Master Chief, is the protagonist of the Halo video game series and its spin-off media. The character first appeared in the 2001 video game Halo: Combat Evolved, a science fiction first-person shooter that became a long-running franchise. The character also appears in spin-off Halo media such as the 2012 film Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, the 2022 Halo television series, and several graphic novels and books.

Arbiter (<i>Halo</i>) Fictional character in the Halo video game series

In the Halo universe, an Arbiter is a ceremonial, religious, and political rank bestowed upon Covenant Elites. In the 2004 video game Halo 2, the rank is given to a disgraced commander named Thel 'Vadam as a way to atone for his failures. Although the Arbiter is intended to die serving the Covenant leadership, the High Prophets, he survives his missions and the Prophets' subsequent betrayal of his kind. When he learns that the Prophets' plans would doom all sentient life in the galaxy, the Arbiter allies with the Covenant's enemies (humans) and stops the ringworld Halo from being activated. The Arbiter is a playable character in Halo 2 and its 2007 sequel Halo 3. The character also appears in Halo 5: Guardians and additional expanded universe material. A different Arbiter, Ripa 'Moramee appears in the 2009 real-time strategy game Halo Wars, which takes place 20 years before the events of the main trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Martinet</span> American actor (born 1955)

Charles Andre Martinet is an American actor. Martinet created the voices of both Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario video game series, portraying them from 1992 to 2023. He also voiced other characters in the series such as Wario, Waluigi, and the baby equivalents of Mario and Luigi, prior to stepping down as voice actor to become an official brand ambassador for the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dee Bradley Baker</span> American voice actor (born 1962)

Dee Bradley Baker is an American actor. Much of his work has consisted of vocalizations of animals and monsters. Baker's roles include animated series such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Codename: Kids Next Door, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Phineas and Ferb, Ben 10, The Legend of Korra, The 7D, Milo Murphy's Law and American Dad!. His voice work in live-action series includes Legends of the Hidden Temple and Shop 'til You Drop, as well as films such as Space Jam and The Boxtrolls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debra Wilson</span> American actress

Debra Wilson is an American actress and comedian. She is the longest-serving original cast member on the sketch comedy series Mad TV, having appeared on the show's first eight seasons from 1995 to 2003. As a voice actress, she has voiced various characters on television and video games, including Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, Baby Shark's Big Show!, Spitting Image, Mirror's Edge Catalyst, Wolfenstein, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Halo Infinite, Diablo IV & Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jen Taylor</span> American actress

Jennifer Taylor is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Cortana in Halo games and the intelligent personal assistant, the voice of Zoey in the Left 4 Dead franchise and formerly as Princess Peach, Toad and other characters in the Mario franchise from 1999 to 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin O'Donnell</span> American video game composer

Martin O'Donnell is an American composer, audio director, and sound designer known for his work on video game developer Bungie's titles, such as the Myth series, Oni, the Halo series, and Destiny. O'Donnell collaborated with his Michael Salvatori for many of the scores; he has also directed voice talent and sound design for the Halo trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Staten</span> American writer

Joseph Staten is an American writer best known for his work at video game studios Bungie, Microsoft Studios, and 343 Industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. C. Douglas</span> American actor and voice actor

D. C. Douglas is an American actor and voice actor. He played Pa Kettle on Syfy's Z Nation, Zepht on Star Trek: Enterprise, and has appeared in several soap operas, including Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. He voiced Albert Wesker in ten Resident Evil games, Legion in Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3, and Yoshikage Kira in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable (2016).

Halo is an American military science fiction television series developed by Kyle Killen and Steven Kane for the streaming service Paramount+. Based on the video game franchise created by Bungie and developed by 343 Industries, the series follows a 26th-century war between the United Nations Space Command and the Covenant, a theocratic-military alliance of several alien races determined to eradicate humanity. Pablo Schreiber and Jen Taylor star as Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and Cortana; the latter reprises her voice role from the video game series.

References

  1. "Steve Downes' Profile". 97.1 WDRV. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  2. Rahman, Bhromor (October 25, 2021). "Steve Downes: "They're going to have to take the mic out of my cold dead fingers!"". The Game Crater. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. Master Chief and Cortana's Favorite Lines From Halo, December 3, 2023, retrieved December 5, 2023
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Steve Downes". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  5. Super Bomberman R Official Voice Actor: Steve Downes as Master Chief. June 7, 2018. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2018 via YouTube.