Ned Luke
Ned Luke (born October 4, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for playing Michael De Santa in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.[1] Luke also voiced Raffles in the animated movie Rover Dangerfield. He has appeared in 29 movies and television shows as well as over 100 commercials.
Ned Luke | |
---|---|
Born | Danville, Illinois, U.S. | October 4, 1958
Other names | Ned von Leuck |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1984–present |
Children | 1 |
Early life
Ned Luke was born on October 4, 1958[2][3] in Danville, Illinois, to Cindy (née Smith) and Fred Luke.
Career
Luke's first major voice role was in Rover Dangerfield, where he played a sheepdog named Raffles opposite Rodney Dangerfield. He was cast as a guest star in several TV shows throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and has appeared in about 100 television commercials featuring products such as Budweiser and Burger King.
In 2007, having grown disenchanted with show business and desiring that his son experience where he grew up, Luke decided to take a break from acting and moved his family from Los Angeles to his hometown of Danville, where he opened a restaurant with his brother. After two years, he decided to return to acting and he and his family moved to New York City. His agent suggested he audition for the role of Michael De Santa, one of the three protagonists of Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V. Luke initially scoffed at the idea of being in a video game, but after reading the script he decided to proceed with the audition.[4] Luke was eventually cast as one of the game's three playable protagonists, Michael De Santa. Grand Theft Auto V went on to set several sales records and has become the 2nd highest grossing video game in history.[5]
He has worked on the 2018 game Red Dead Redemption 2 and guest starred on Boardwalk Empire.[6]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | The Bear | Football Player | |
1991 | Rover Dangerfield | Raffles | Voice only, supporting role |
1996 | The Nutty Professor | Construction Worker | Uncredited |
1997 | On the Line | Officer Al | (TV Movie) |
1999 | Citation of Merit | Sergeant Smith | Short film |
2017 | American Gothic | Bill |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Angel Street | Officer | Episode: "The Blonde in the Pond" |
1994 | Guiding Light | Sheriff | 2 episodes |
1995 | NYPD Blue | Lawyer | Episode: "Cold Heaters" |
1996 | Murder One | Conspiracy Guy | Episode: "Chapter Eleven" |
1996 | Renegade | Andy Warwick | Episode: "The Milk Carton Kid" |
1997 | The Burning Zone | 2nd Officer | Episode: "Critical Mass" |
1997 | High Incident | Gary Butterworth | Episode: "Remote Control" |
1999 | General Hospital | Body Guard | 2 episodes |
1999 | City Guys | Lonnie Collins | Episode: "Miracle on 134th Street and Lexington Avenue" |
2000 | The Pretender | David Arnold | Episode: "Junk" |
2000 | JAG | Senior Chief Petty Officer Bracken | Episode: "Drop Zone" |
2000 | The Huntress | Detective Ellard | Episode: "The Kid" |
2000 | Diagnosis Murder | Timmons | Episode: "The Patient Detective" |
2002 2003 2013 |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mr. Wilmont Roger Swanson Mr. Thurber |
Season 3: "Popular" Season 4: "Mercy" Season 15: "Surrender Benson" |
2004 | Third Watch | Ron Connelly | Episode: "Greatest Detectives in the World" |
2005 | As the World Turns | Detective Langstorm | 2 episodes |
2005 | Jonny Zero | Officer Muncie | Episode: "To Serve and to Protect" |
2002–2005 | All My Children | Fire Chief / Private Investigator | 3 episodes |
2005 | Law & Order | Ken Cosgrove | Episode: "New York Minute" |
2009 | Katana | Executive | Episode: "Pilot" |
2013 | Boardwalk Empire | Boorish Man | Episode: "All In" |
2015 | Unfiltered | Randolph Wiley | Lead role, unreleased |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | Michael De Santa | Also motion capture |
2018 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Various strangers | Voice unreleased, motion capture |
Accolades
Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Grand Theft Auto V | Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game | Nominated |
References
- "Preview: 'GTA V' actor Ned Luke talks". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- Luke, Ned [@ned_luke] (October 18, 2013). "55 is the new 35 bitches" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
- Luke, Ned [@ned_luke] (October 5, 2020). "Thanks all y'all for the birthday wishes. Much appreciated" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
- Molina, Brett. "Interview: Crime pays for 'Grand Theft Auto V' actors". USA Today. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- Chalk, Andy (November 7, 2017). "Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling videogame of all time in the US". PC Gamer.
- Furn, Daniel (8 September 2022). "GTA 5 voice actors: Full cast and where you know them from". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 October 2023.