Matthew Mercer
Matthew Mercer is an American voice actor working primarily out of Los Angeles, California. He is notable for voicing Jotaro Kujo in the TV anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. He also voiced a minor character, Akira in Diamond is Unbreakable.
Mercer is well known for his several other roles such as Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titan, Trafalgar Law in One Piece, Leorio Paradinight in Hunter × Hunter, Hit in Dragon Ball Super, Kiritsugu Emiya in Fate/Zero, Alvin in Tales of Xillia, Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil 6, Chrom and Ryoma in Fire Emblem, Yusuke Kitagawa in Persona 5, Cassidy in Overwatch, and Espio the Chameleon in the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Mercer also serves as the Dungeon Master in the popular Dungeons & Dragons web series, Critical Role. He is the chief creative officer of Critical Role Productions and an executive producer for the The Legend of Vox Machina animated series.[4]
Biography
Matthew Christopher Miller, better known professionally as Matthew Mercer, is a distinguished voice actor of Scottish descent, born on June 29, 1982, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His creative nature was nurtured from an early age with his mother's profession as scriptwriter and producer, and his father, an Audio engineer and musician. Despite being raised on musical influences like Pink Floyd and Moody Blues, Mercer chose to pursue a different path in life while his brother picked up the musical mantle.
Growing up on the impoverished side of West Palm Beach, Mercer's childhood was marked by frequent relocations and a battle with a speech impediment, which contributed to a somewhat isolated childhood. His grandmother, a notable figure in the entertainment industry, was head of Burt Reynolds Productions and manager of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre where Mercer's parents also worked. His family would eventually move to Los Angeles when Mercer was eight after his mother was hired by Reynold's studio as a writer for Evening Shade.[5]
Mercer attended Agoura High School[2] where he focused on cultivating his passion for art and dance. His affinity for anime and video games led him to join his school's "popular art club", sparking his interest in Dungeons & Dragons and the broader convention and cosplay scene.[6] Mercer's dramatic flair found an outlet in the school's drama club where he showcased his acting talents in plays like "The Crucible" and "South Pacific."[5]
Initially pursuing a career in art and comics, Mercer applied to the California Institute of the Arts's animation program after high school. However, conversations with peers and artists ultimately steered him towards the gaming industry, where he began as a game tester at Sound Source Interactive. His dedication saw him rise to the position of lead game tester and eventually manager over a span of seven years. It was during this time that Mercer explored voice-over work, participating in various walla (background voice) sessions through an introduction by his father to a Japanese animation director. Recognizing his calling in voice acting, Mercer quit his job in 2007 to pursue the craft full-time. He later joined SAG-AFTRA, adopting the surname "Mercer" to distinguish himself professionally. [5]
Mercer's career took a significant turn on March 12, 2015, with the launch of Critical Role on the Geek & Sundry's commercial YouTube channel. As the Dungeon Master, Mercer's narrative prowess propelled the Dungeons & Dragons web series to global acclaim, transforming it into a massively popular phenomenon and one of the world's biggest storytelling media companies. Within Critical Role, Mercer serves as the Chief Creative Officer, a primary cast member, and an executive producer of the animated series The Legend of Vox Machina.
On July 5, 2014, a preview of the English dub of Stardust Crusaders, starring Mercer as Jotaro Kujo, was screened at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California. During this time, the episodes were also available on Crunchyroll until midnight on July 6th. Mercer would later reprise his role as Jotaro when the season officially debuted on Toonami on July 30, 2017. During the same year, Mercer was awarded Voice Actor of the Year at the BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Awards for his portrayal of McCree. He married voice actress and Critical Role co-star Marisha Ray on October 21, 2017.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Roles
| Title | Media | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stardust Crusaders | Anime | 2017-2018 |
| Diamond is Unbreakable | Anime | 2018-2019 |
| Golden Wind | Anime | 2019 |
| Stone Ocean | Anime | 2021-2022 |
| Title | Media | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stardust Crusaders | Anime | 2017-2018 |
| Diamond is Unbreakable | Anime | 2018-2019 |
| Stone Ocean | Anime | 2021-2022 |
| Title | Media | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stardust Crusaders | Anime | 2018 |
| Title | Media | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond is Unbreakable | Anime | 2018-2019 |
| Title | Media | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Ocean | Anime | 2022 |
Video
References
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2233310
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/matthewmercer
- ↑ Polygon - The next D&D book is a Critical Role tie-in
- ↑ Critical Role Team, After Record-Breaking Fan Crowdfunding Response, Vows to Make ‘The Best Goddamn Cartoon Anyone Has Ever Seen’
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Between the Sheets: Matthew Mercer
- ↑ Storytime with Matt Mercer | PAX Unplugged 2023
