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 names | Ned von Leuck |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1984–present |
Spouse(s) | Amy Sax (m. 1997) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Paul 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
- "Preview: 'GTA V' actor Ned Luke talks". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- "Ned Luke: Trivia". IMDb.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- "Interview: Crime pays for 'Grand Theft Auto V' actors". Usatoday.com. 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.
- John Gaudiosi (October 3, 2013). "Grand Theft Auto V actors think their game is violent, and that's okay". TechHive. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- "Gaming Trivia #33: Grand Theft Auto V". Trueachievements.com. Retrieved November 13, 2014.