Nolan North’s Best Characters

Nolan North is one of the most prolific actors in gaming, and his roles have reached the status of icons that others only strive towards. Nolan North has been responsible for the voice behind some of the greatest and most varied characters in video games, and he deserves the utmost appreciation for his talent and his roles.

With almost 3 decades of acting credits, incredible voice work, and performance capture, it’s time to look back at some of Nolan North’s best characters and the content that they come from to see how his own work stacks against each other for the top spot.

10

David

The Disturbing Cannibal Leader

• Featured in: The Last of Us

The Last of Us is filled with plenty of horrors both from the cordyceps virus and from surviving humans, and David is perhaps one of the worst survivors who thrives in this new world as a cannibal. Nolan North brings such a gentle intensity to David with his calming voice, but it’s obvious that there’s something not quite about the character in the way he carries himself and speaks.

David is a true monster, and seeing Nolan North inhabit a role so dark and opposite from Nathan Drake just goes to show how talented he is, as David is truly unforgettable in a plethora of disturbing ways that make players feel unsafe around him entirely.

9

Raphael

The Always-Angry New Yorker Turtle With More Than Just a Shell On His Shoulders

TMNT was an interesting Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that definitely deserved a sequel, as it sought to ask the question of what would happen with the four turtle brothers after the total defeat of Shredder – and Nolan North was the perfect choice to play the aggressive and angst of Raphael, who is always in a constant state of disdain over losing the vigilante life.

Nolan North’s performance as Raphael embodies the New York accent and the aggressive style that audiences have come to love about the red bandana-wearing and sai-wielding Ninja Turtle, and his relationship with the other turtles, especially the “leader” Leonardo, embodies such frustration that it’s a shame there wasn’t more of this story-rich character.

8

The Penguin

The Sadistic and Greedy Mobster of Gotham City

• Featured in: Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman: Arkham Origins, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

The Penguin is easily one of Nolan North’s best characters, especially for how most people who have played the Batman Arkham games fail to even register that it’s Nolan North behind the voice. Oswald Cobblepot has a cockney accent this time around, providing him with a harsh voice that’s unlike the other works of Nolan North.

Nolan North’s portrayal of the Penguin is one of the most unique, and easily one of the best, highlighted throughout various appearances to display his talents. Nolan North gets Penguin’s cadences down to a tee, along with his sheer greed, sadistic nature, and overwhelming cowardice when facing Batman’s fists.

7

Desmond Miles

A Young Man Destined for the Ultimate Fate of an Assassin

• Featured in: Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Assassin’s Creed 3

When most think about the classic era of Assassin’s Creed, it’s more often than not that they think of Ezio Auditore rather than the sections featured in the modern day, but that doesn’t mean the pieces with Desmond Miles are not worth engaging in, and they still feature as some of the most story-rich character-driven moments from the series, led by Nolan North as the protagonist, Desmond Miles.

Nolan North’s Desmond Miles is far calmer than other characters, but he can become frequently frustrated after being out of his depth when it comes to this massive world of Assassins and Templars that he’s seemingly been thrust into. Desmond’s inexperience, willingness to learn, and rebellious streak make him a fun modern-day protagonist that the series definitely misses.

6

Iron Man

The Confident and Snarky Genius to Rival RDJ

• Featured in: The Avengers

While Square Enix’s The Avengers didn’t get its time in the sun (much like the next entry), it still had its redeeming qualities in its cast and characters. One such character was Iron Man and Tony Stark, played by Nolan North with such confidence and a snarky attitude that it definitely becomes more than just another standard Robert Downey Jr. impression.

Nolan North brings his own characterization to Iron Man, and while it’s easy to hear his distinctive voice, it’s also nice to hear a different side of it along with a new personality befitting of a comic-accurate Iron Man that Nolan North brings to the gaming scene, and hopefully for another game in the future.

5

Superman

The Booming Man of Steel with a Dark Streak

• Featured in: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Like The Avengers, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League didn’t get the time it deserved, but at least audiences got to hear Nolan North’s portrayal of Superman – even if that was rather short-lived. Before Brainiac’s corruption, Superman can be heard in various audio logs and seen in museum holograms in the Hall of Justice, and he comes off as so friendly and so Superman-like thanks to his strong voice that has such a gentleness that it’s hard not to admire him.

It’s a shame that after Brainiac’s corruption, there are still elements of that bolstering chest-carrying voice attributed to an iconic Superman, but with a more sadistic streak – a smirk that knows that he can tear the world in two with his palms should he choose to.

4

Ghost

The Guardian’s Best Friend, a Loving Voice in Dark Times

• Featured in: Destiny, Destiny 2

Peter Dinklage once voiced the Ghost in Destiny, but despite his talent, it’s safe to say that Nolan North left much more of a lasting impression, and it’s always a treat to hear the Ghost get more voice lines with each season and expansion. The Ghost in Destiny isn’t just any Ghost – he’s your ghost, and he’s with you through thick and thin to resurrect you and experience the wonders and the pains of the war of Light and Dark from day one.

Nolan North’s portrayal of the Ghost is one filled with curiosity, bravery, and devotion to the Vanguard – but most importantly, you, Guardian. The Ghost is the little light that we love, and Nolan North brings such life to such a small and robotic thing that we can’t help but cherish it.

3

Deadpool

A Defining Voice for the Merc with a Mouth

• Featured in: Deadpool, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Before Ryan Reynolds took the character to live-action to gross over a billion dollars, there was Nolan North in the red spandex and the disfigured skin. Nolan North still voices Deadpool and Wade Wilson, and it’s always a treat to hear. Nolan North’s Deadpool has grit, snark, sass, and a bundle of mayhem and hilarity in every line.

It’s hard not to hear Nolan North’s ramblings as Deadpool without growing a smile, as it’s obvious from the voice that this is such a fun character to be for Nolan North, that it only makes audiences want more of him as the Merc with a Mouth who has an irresistible charm and obnoxious personality we just can’t get enough of.

2

Edward Richtofen

The Crazed German Scientist of Ultimis and the Doomed Genius of Primis

• Featured in: Call of Duty: World at War, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty quite simply wouldn’t be the same without Nolan North as Edward Richtofen, a character that has featured in practically every Treyarch title since Call of Duty: World at War, and for good reason. Edward Richtofen is the voice, face, and soul of COD Zombies, as it’s a character brimming with so much personality, and it’s clear that Nolan North has such fun doing the voice.

Whether it’s the intense acting featured in cutscenes and audio logs, or the fun voice lines of characters reacting to new weapons from the Mystery Box, the taste of Perk-a-Colas, or simply talking to the crews of Primis and Ultimis, Richtofen is essential to the DNA and soul of COD Zombies, and this mad German scientist can only ever be portrayed by Nolan North.

1

Nathan Drake

A Humorous Treasure Hunter Who Seeks Dangers and Fortune

• Featured in: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Uncharted: 4: A Thief’s End

Nathan Drake is easily Nolan North’s most defining character, and this character received four incredible games from Naughty Dog with Nate in the protagonist role – with Nolan North providing an incredible performance each and every time. Nathan Drake evolved with each game, both in terms of graphics and emotion, but that snarky and sarcastic explorer always kept his sense of adventure.

Nathan Drake’s admiration for treasure hunting, deep-rooted care for the ones he loves, and his talents at anything to do with parkour and killing people, make him an action icon, and it’s great to see Nolan North bring so much charm to the role to make this gaming’s Indiana Jones.