Summary
The post-apocalypticFalloutfranchise details a world ravaged by a war between China and America, which ended with a nuclear holocaust. Many of its games feature a narrator who tells the player that “war never changes.” This deep-voiced monologue is about how greed is a consistent motivator for devastating conflicts. It is narrated by Ron Perlman, a famous actor known for frequently collaborating withGuillermo Del Toro, appearing in films such asCronos(1992),theHellboyduology(2004-2008), andPinocchio(2022), among many others. He has appeared in sevenFalloutgames, nearly always as the narrator.
Although Perlman is perhaps the most famous actor to consistently appear in theFalloutseries, he is one of many when it comes to those who have lent their voice to the series over the years. Though the series is now popular enough to have a show that itself includes a number of notable names, the games also include a number of renowned actors among their cast. Here are six recognizable performers you might not have known were in theFalloutseries.
6Jason Mewes
Mordecai “Mort” McCoy in Fallout 76: Wastelanders Update (2020)
Jason Mewes is a close friend and frequent collaborator offilmmaker Kevin Smith. The duo performs in many of Smith’s films, such asClerks(1994) andMallrats(1995), typically playing the comedic pair, Jay and Silent Bob. Mewes plays Jay, the more talkative member of the two with a penchant for blatantly offensive behavior. Outside his work with Smith, Mewes has an assortment of appearances in various films and television shows.
Overall, though, being a ghoul, mixed bag. Can’t say I’d recommend it as a lifestyle choice.
Mewes voiced the raspy ghoul, Mort,in theFallout 76updateWastelanders. Mort is a patron at the Wayward bar in Appalachia. Despite his somewhat goofy demeanor, he is capable of being genuinely helpful towards 76’s vault dwellers. His knowledge of subjects such as C.A.M.Ps can be useful for players. He is even helpful to others at the Wayward, as his Ghoul physiology allows him to access irradiated areas that most humans cannot.
5Pamela Adlon
Nicole in Fallout (1997)
Pamela Adlon is an actress who has appeared in films such asSay Anything…(1989) andHoller(2020),among others. She is arguably more well known for her voice acting, making use of her distinctive voice to bring iconic characters such as Bobby Hill fromKing of the Hill(1997-2010)to life. Adlon’s voice was also featured in the first-everFalloutgame, which debuted the same year.
Morpheus is the leader of the Children of the Cathedral. He is evil, and that fact must be exposed.
InFallout,Adlon voices Nicole, the leader of the humanitarian organization, Followers of the Apocalypse.Nicole desires to restore peace to the world in a non-violent way. Her aspirations cause her to be in opposition to the Children of the Cathedral, a cult run by The Master, the game’s main antagonist, that disguises itself as a benevolent religious organization.
Falloutis far from the only video game Adlon has lent her voice to, having appeared in others such as thePajama Samseries (1996-2003), where she often voiced the main character.
4Tony Shalhoub
Aradesh in Fallout (1997)
Tony Shalhoub is an actor best known for portraying the titular detective inMonk(2002-2009), as well as major roles inWings(1990-1997) andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel(2017-2023). In addition to his television work, he has also appeared in many plays, films, and voice-acting roles.
Ummm, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Please talk to Razlo. He possesses far more information on these creatures than I.
Shalhoub’s first video game role was Aradesh, the leader of the New California settlement known as Shady Sands. Aradesh is a respected leader who focuses on his community, maintaining a largely isolationist policy. However, after being aided twice by The Vault Dweller, the avatar character inFallout, he changes his point of view. Alongside his daughter Tandi, he laterhelps form the New California Republic (NCR),which persists as a major organization in laterFalloutgames. Outside ofFallout, Shalhoub has lent his voice to video games revolving around theCarsseries, reprising his role from the films as Luigi.
3Matthew Perry
Benny in Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
The late Matthew Perry achieved international fame with his role asChandler Bingin the long-running sitcom,Friends(1994-2004). Perry also had leading roles in comedic films such asFools Rush In(1997) andThe Whole Nine Yards(2000). Unlike the majority ofFalloutperformers, Perry did little voice acting before or since his appearance in the game. However, Perry made his love for the series known during a guest appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he gifted an Xbox containing a copy ofFallout 3. It was this appearance that led to him voicing Benny inFallout: New Vegas.
It’s a game, and games have winners and losers. I prefer the former, how about you?
Benny is the traitorous right-hand man of Mr. House, the reclusive ruler of New Vegas. Benny encounters Courier Six, the protagonist ofNew Vegas,fairly early into the game. He ambushes the courier and has them shot in the head twice, stealing the platinum chip they were to deliver, and leaving them for dead. Benny is the leader of the Chairmen, one of the Three Families, who control the New Vegas Strip. His ambitious nature leads to him having a hard time staying out of trouble. Hismannerisms are believed to be inspired by Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, a mobster similarly credited with helping develop the Las Vegas Strip. After his recent passing, Perry was not only mourned by fans of his appearances on television and film but also by those who knew him fromNew Vegas.
2Malcolm McDowell
John Henry Eden in Fallout 3 (2008)
English actor Malcolm McDowell broke through with his appearance as Alex DeLarge in the heavily acclaimed film,A Clockwork Orange(1971). He has acted since the 1960s up to the present day. Since the 1980s, McDowell has also had a prolific voice acting career.He voices the antagonistic President John Henry Eden inFallout 3.
I am President John Henry Eden, and this is my pledge – no one, NO ONE will take this great nation away from me!
Eden heads theEnclave, a paramilitary organization dedicated to establishing fascistic control over the Wasteland and effectively marginalizing all non-members. Their membership consists of influential pre-war American individuals, described as the rich who refused to give up their power. Eden, however, is not a human being, but an advanced,self-aware AI, with a personality influenced by an incomprehensible amalgamation of previous presidents. Despite its advanced nature, there are various means The Lone Wanderer can use to convince Eden to self-destruct.
1Liam Neeson
James in Fallout 3 (2008)
Irish actor Liam Neesonis a well-known performer, who first broke through as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’sSchindler’s List(1993).Other widely known roles of his include Qui-Gon Jinn inStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace(1999)and Bryan Mills in theTakentrilogy (2008-2014). He has also worked with celebrated directors such as Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, and the Coen brothers.
In addition to his film and television work, Neeson has a few video game credits to his name. These tend to typically revolve around characters he played in films, such as Henri Ducard inBatman Begins(2005) and Good Cop/ Bad Cop inThe Lego Movie(2014). However,Fallout 3gave Neeson an entirely new character to originate in the game.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
James is thefather of The Lone Wanderer,Fallout 3’s avatar character, often given thedisplay name of “Dad.” James led Project Purity, a project intended to create a water purifier, that would decontaminate sealed-off irradiated water and make the essential resource more common. After the birth of his child, as well as his wife’s death from related complications, James decided to put his child first. He moved to a vault, where he worked as a physician and focused on raising his child. However, James eventually sought to leave the vault. He hoped his child would be safe, but they saw fit to follow him. Although the player can eventually save James, he islater killed in a confrontation with the Enclave,who seek to use his purifier to consolidate their power.
