Keith David

Keith David

Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956), better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, and voice actor, and rapper. He is perhaps most known for his live action roles in such films as Crash, There’s Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work. He has also had memorable roles in numerous cult favorites, including John Carpenter’s films The Thing (as Childs) and They Live (as Armitage), the Riddick films Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick (as the Imam), the General in Armageddon, and as King in Oliver Stone’s Platoon. David is also well known for his voice over career, primarily his Emmy winning work as the narrator of numerous Ken Burns films. Goliath on the Disney series Gargoyles, the Arbiter in Halo 2 and Halo 3, David Anderson in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, the Decepticon Barricade in Transformers: The Game, Julius Little in Saints Row and Saints Row 2, Sgt. Foley in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and as Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog.

Trade Mark

Deep, commanding voice, very reminiscent of Orson Welles.

Often plays hot-tempered, irritable characters.

His big smile, with a gap between his teeth.

Trivia

Following the 1986 film Platoon (1986), Charlie Sheen — who starred in the films — did a TV interview and credits Keith David with saving his life. While shooting dailies in an open-doored Huey gunship, the helicopter banked too hard, and Sheen was thrown towards — and would have gone through — the open door. David grabbed Sheen by the back and pulled him back in.

Very popular voice-over actor.

Took over as narrator for the show “City Confidential” (1998) after the death of Paul Winfield.

Nominated for Broadway’s 1992 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role – Musical) for “Jelly’s Last Jam.”

Frequent voice collaborator with fellow voice-actor Ron Perlman. Computer games: Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game (1997) (VG), Lords of Everquest (2003) (VG), Halo 2 (2004) (VG), Halo 3 (2007) (VG). Animated series: “Aladdin” (1994), “Fantastic Four” (1994), “Justice League” (2001), “Teen Titans” (2003). And they have both had a guest appearance on the TV series “The Outer Limits” (1995).

His ex-wife attended Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) with Lisa Nicole Carson where they both appeared (and worked backstage) in theater department productions.

Studied acting with Michael Howard in New York City.

In February 2010 he became the first actor to provide his voice for two films nominated for Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature. He played the part of The Cat in Coraline (2009) and the villain Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog (2009).

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