Ned Luke

Ned Luke is an American actor. He served as the voice and physical actor of Michael De Santa in the 2013 acclaimed video game Grand Theft Auto V[1] and voiced Raffles in the animated movie Rover Dangerfield. Luke has appeared in 29 movies and television shows to date and has also appeared in over 100 commercials.

Ned Luke
Born
Other namesNed von Leuck
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present
Spouse(s)
Amy Sax
(m. 1997)
Children1
RelativesPaul Birch (grandfather)

Early life

Ned Luke was born in Danville, Illinois, to Cindy (née Smith) and Fred Luke. His maternal grandfather was actor Paul Birch.[2]

He graduated from Danville High School in 1977 where he was a bi-sport athlete and honor student. He later attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. He has four siblings.

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 decided to proceed with the audition.[3] 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.[4]

Personal life

Luke married yoga instructor and part-time actress Amy Sax on November 12, 1997. They have a son, Max "Bubba" and live in Westchester County, New York.[5] Luke is nearly deaf in his right ear.[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 Sherrif 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 1 episode
2000 The Huntress Detective Ellard Episode: "The Kid"
2000 Diagnosis Murder Timmons 1 episode
2004 Third Watch Ron Connelly 1 episode
2005 As the World Turns Detective Langstorm 2 episodes
2005 Jonny Zero Officer Muncie 1 episode
2002–2005 All My Children Fire Chief/Private Investigator 3 episodes
2005 Law & Order Ken Cosgrove 1 episode
2009 Katana Executive Episode: "Pilot"
2002–2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Thurber/Roger Swanson/Mr. Wilmont 3 episodes
2013 Boardwalk Empire Boorish Man 1 episode
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 II 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

  1. "Preview: 'GTA V' actor Ned Luke talks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. "Ned Luke: Trivia". IMDb.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  3. "Interview: Crime pays for 'Grand Theft Auto V' actors". Usatoday.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  4. Chalk, Andy (November 7, 2017). "Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling videogame of all time in the US". PC Gamer.
  5. John Gaudiosi (October 3, 2013). "Grand Theft Auto V actors think their game is violent, and that's okay". TechHive. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  6. "Gaming Trivia #33: Grand Theft Auto V". Trueachievements.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
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