When we watch a movie, we think of actors as a combination of appearance, voice, facial expressions, and body language. But what about animated characters and cartoons? Who breathes life into these creatures, whether they’re hand-drawn or computer-generated? They’re the so-called “gray eminences” of filmmaking—people nobody sees or knows, but everyone hears. In this article on bronx-trend, we’ll introduce you to one of the most famous voice actors of our time: Kevin Michael Richardson.
Finding an Unusual Profession
Kevin Michael Richardson was born in the Bronx on October 25, 1964. As a boy, he was fascinated by the arts and all kinds of creative work. He loved watching movies and cartoons, often imitating his favorite characters. So when it came time to choose a college, Kevin didn’t hesitate to enroll at Syracuse University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Richardson already knew what he wanted to do with his life, and his friends and teachers at the university were impressed by his talent for mimicking voices.
But without experience or connections in the film industry, a big-screen career was just a dream.
He kept dreaming, but at the same time, he took small steps toward that goal. Kevin began his career by voicing commercials. Gradually, he started getting small jobs voicing minor characters in TV episodes and video games. And then, his big break finally came. Richardson’s career took a significant leap when he brought the character Goro to life in the popular video game Mortal Kombat. From then on, Kevin was noticed and started being invited to bigger projects. He continued to do commercial voiceovers and eventually began working on popular shows like Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, and American Dad. But his greatest legacy, of course, is the animated film and cartoon characters, some of whom have become cultural icons.
Read about the life and career of another Bronx-born actress in this article.
Kevin Michael Richardson’s Best Film Roles
- Mortal Kombat (1995).
All the characters from the legendary ’90s game Mortal Kombat were brought together in a feature film. Among the chosen characters was the famous giant Goro, who became Richardson’s entry point to the big screen.
- The Matrix Revolutions (2003).
In the third installment of the famous Matrix series, Kevin’s voice is heard as the character Deus Ex Machina, the main interface of the Machine City where the main characters end up.
- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009).
This was Richardson’s first experience with a large-scale project. He wasn’t given a lead role, but he voiced several Decepticons, giving each one a unique tone and emotional color.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008).
Kevin brought the animated monster Jabba the Hutt to life—a creature that looks like a cross between the Cheshire Cat and a giant frog.
- The Dark Knight (2008).
Richardson’s voice was used for several characters in this film, including Lucius Fox, Avery, the Wounded Man, and the Bulky Man.
Kevin Michael Richardson’s Best Cartoon Roles
- The Cleveland Show (2009-2023).
In this animated sitcom, a spinoff of Family Guy, Kevin voiced Junior, the son of Cleveland and Loretta Brown. The role was originally given to Mike Henry, and it was only after the character’s transformation that it was handed over to Richardson. Audiences noted that Junior’s voice became more interesting, gaining a certain firmness and character.
- Transformers: Prime (2010-2013).
Some people see a resemblance between Kevin’s first famous voiced character, Goro, and the large Autobot, Bulkhead. But while the giant in Mortal Kombat primarily conveys negative emotions like anger, rage, and despair, Bulkhead can do more than just intimidate. He shows a special empathy when interacting with the delicate girl Miko, who becomes a true friend to the giant Autobot. Some film critics consider Bulkhead to be one of Richardson’s most underrated voice roles, as it beautifully demonstrates his talent for conveying the complexity of emotionally layered characters.
- Teen Titans (2003-2006).
Once again, Kevin was entrusted with a powerful character—the supervillain Trigon, who the Titans of the famous American animated series bravely fight. Kevin’s booming and powerful voice added confidence and palpable strength to Trigon.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012).
In the animated series about the famous martial arts turtles named after great artists, Richardson voiced their main enemy, Shredder. It’s safe to say that Kevin plays villains superbly.
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
This time, the voice of the main villain, Bowser, was given to Jack Black, and Richardson had a chance to try a new role: the cunning and influential advisor to Bowser, the sorcerer Kamek. Despite his innocent appearance as an old wizard in a robe, he plays a crucial role in the plot. Kevin proved that his voice can be used not only for villains and superheroes but also for such complex and intriguing characters.
- Lilo & Stitch (2002–present).
Another fantastic character, a cross between a whale and an elephant, is Captain Gantu. While he usually acts as an antagonist in the cartoon, he can’t be called a truly evil character. He simply follows the orders of the Grand Councilwoman of the Galactic Federation, commanding the space fleet. His actions sometimes cause problems, but overall, Captain Gantu is a decent guy. By voicing this character, Richardson showed a new side to his talent, as Captain Gantu is more of a comedic, sometimes clumsy and not-so-bright character. Kevin handled this complex mix of irony and exaggerated grandeur perfectly.
- The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009).
Thompson Lincoln is always calm, composed, and in control. This was a new level of villain for Richardson to voice. Without shouting or displays of force, he makes it clear that he’s not someone you want to mess with.
- The Batman (2004-2008).
One of Kevin’s most famous roles and perhaps his most complex character is the notorious Joker, a clown villain with a complicated, twisted psychotype. It was hard for Richardson to take on the role after the legendary Mark Hamill, who first gave the Joker a voice, but most critics agree that Kevin managed to capture the maniacal, pathological traits of the evil clown even better.
Richardson’s Favorite Characters
If you count all the films, series, cartoons, sitcoms, video games, and TV shows Kevin Richardson has voiced, you’ll get over 240 projects. And that doesn’t even count the fact that he often voiced several characters in one film or cartoon.
But among all of them, some roles hold a special place in Richardson’s heart. The first is the role of Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Kevin recalls:
“As soon as they said ‘Shredder,’ I automatically knew what they really wanted from this guy. He has a sharp, serious edge and a thirst for revenge. In the audition, I kept that simmering energy throughout the dialogue because he doesn’t really yell too much unless he wants to get his point across. So he’s a character who keeps the power and strength in his mind without shouting. I felt this guy was just insane, straightforward, and strong—he’s going to slice and dice you. That was the character.”
Richardson also remembers the incredible atmosphere in the studio while working on The Turtles: “The cast is just wonderful, we had so much fun between takes. When we were on break, we were always joking around and having a good time. It’s always especially fun with Rob Paulsen (Donatello) and Clancy Brown (Dogpound), so it was hard for me to focus, to get serious and say, ‘Look! It’s time for me to slice you!’ But we somehow got it together and worked.”
Another character Richardson highlights is the Joker. Kevin was truly upset when The Batman underwent radical changes: new producers, a new concept, new actors, new versions of the main characters. He genuinely wanted to see the story continue with the familiar characters and voices, but the decision had been made—Mark Hamill was done with the Joker. If Richardson hadn’t accepted, someone else would have been found. So he successfully auditioned and didn’t regret it. Kevin recalls:
“I loved playing the Joker because it was so freeing. There was very little direction from the director. I was allowed to deliver my lines as I saw fit. The Joker was all over the place, talking maniacally, bipolar, just pure insanity. He was like a crazy, sick sandwich. He had his ups and downs and laughs. I nearly passed out every time doing that laugh, but I’d do it again. I really loved playing that character.”
There was one more character that left a lasting impact on Kevin, a role after which it took him a long time to recover. It wasn’t a lead role, the pay wasn’t great, and it wasn’t a blockbuster film. Kevin voiced a mentally challenged boy, and it affected him deeply.
“That character meant a lot to me because I had a friend when I was very young, about ten years old, who was mentally challenged. I remembered him when I played that role and tried to imagine what he would be like at the age I was playing the role, so he would have been in his twenties. It was touching and very emotional for me because I saw the struggles someone like him went through socially, and it was very hard and very sad. I took it in emotionally, physically, and it really became a part of me. I was also very emotionally attached to this character because when I was younger, some teachers thought I was autistic. It brought back a lot of childhood memories for me, and playing that character just meant a lot.”
Kevin Richardson’s contribution to the world of voice acting has been recognized with numerous nominations and awards, cementing his place as one of the best voice actors in the entertainment industry. We hope his talented work across a wide range of genres will continue to entertain and inspire for many years to come.
Read about movies that were filmed in the Bronx in this article.
