| David Kaye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Real Name: | David Kaye |
| Born: | 14 October 1964 |
| Height: | 6' |
| Originally From: | Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Wife: | Maria Hope |
| Personal Information | |
| First appearance: | Strategy X |
| Portrays: | Charles Xavier Apocalypse |
Not to be confused with David A.Kayer.
David Kaye is a Canadian actor and voice actor. He voiced Charles Xavier and Apocalypse on X-Men Evolution.
Life and career[]
David Kaye's vocal career began with The Great American Hero, General Hawk in the D.I.C. animation series, G.I. Joe in 1989. Working as an on-air talent for radio station C.K.L.G. quickly became less interesting as both on-camera and behind-the-microphone roles started taking up more time. Over the next decade and a half David's on camera roles burgeoned along with his vocal career. On camera opportunities came in the form of guest roles on numerous TV series and movies such as the X-Files, Battlestar Galactica and Happy Gilmore with Adam Sandler.
During this time Kaye was being cast in some of the first of hundreds of animation shows and video-games. So many, in fact, this now became the main focus of his career and he's never looked back.
David's biggest moment was when he was cast as Megatron in 1994 in the wonderfully popular series Transformers. As a new animation art form was taking off, Beast Wars was born (Beasties in Canada) and would run for four seasons of "...the most fun you could ever have!" says David. Thus began an almost twenty-year relationship with the Transformers franchise. In 2007, David became the only actor in the history of the franchise to play the lead villain and the lead hero when was cast as Optimus Prime for Cartoon Network's Transformers: Animated.
Once again, David finds himself returning to a franchise he first engaged in years before. This time going back to the beginning with G.I. Joe. Not only can he be heard as Scarlett's father, but also introducing every episode as the narrator during the opening titles.
For fans of Japanese cartoons, David Kaye has been the voice behind Sesshomaru in the English dub of the original Inuyasha series, movies, and the games based off it (due to his moving to L.A., he was unavailable to reprise his role for the dub of the Final Act series and was replaced), 'Treize Khushrenada' in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Recoome in Dragon Ball Z (1996-1998) and as the high strung father, Soun Tendo in Ranma 1/2. His cartoon work still brings fans to conventions to meet him.
After commuting between Vancouver and Los Angeles for almost a decade, a full-time move to L.A. was inevitable. Shortly after the move, David landed a role in Disney/Pixar's Oscar winning movie, Up.
As the work keeps coming in, David's voice can be heard in Insomniac's 'Ratchet & Clank' video game series as the lovable robot 'Clank. He's also been featured in 'Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions' as 'Mysterio', 'Nick Fury' and 'Captain America' in 'Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2', 'Missing Link' in 'Monsters vs Aliens', the game and many more.
David is now working on another highly popular series 'Ben 10' as the lead villain. As well as working with J.G. Quintel on 'Flap Jack' and 'The Regular Show.'
With continuing commitments now for movie trailers, network promotions for A.B.C., Fox, C.W. and a host of radio and television affiliates and a lot of commercial work, the days get a little tight from time to time.
Trivia[]
- David is the only voice actor in the Transformers franchise to have regularly played both Megatron and Optimus Prime.
- He is married to Maria Hope and together they have one daughter together.
Filmography[]
- This does not include all credits.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Ranma ½ | Soun Tendo | 3 Episodes |
| 1992 | Dragon Ball Z | Recoome / Major Metallitron | 7 Episodes |
| 2000 | Mobile Suit Gundam Wing | Treize Khushrenada | 4 Episodes |
| 2000 | X-Men: Evolution | Charles Xavier | 48 Episodes |
| 2002 | Barbie as Rapunzel | Hugo / Genera | Movie |
| 2001 | Project ARMS | Evil Scientist | 1 Episode |
| 2000 | Dragon Ball Z | Recoome / Major Metallitron | 8 Episodes |
| 2001 | InuYasha | Sesshōmaru | 50 Episodes |
| 2001 | Kong: The Animated Series | Professor Ramon De La Porta | 40 Episodes |
| 2005 | Inuyasha: Feudal Combat | Sesshōmaru | Movie |
| 2006 | Class of the Titans | Cronus | 36 Episodes |
| 2007 | Transformers: Animated | Optimus Prime | 43 Episodes |