While celebrity actors taking roles in animated films and TV shows has been a common occurrence since the 90s, it’s far rarer for a performer to become more notorious for their voice acting career than their appearances in front of the camera. However, this is exactly the case for voiceover legend Keith David.
Keith David has appeared in no shortage of live action films, from The Thing and Platoon to The Chronicles of Riddick and Cloud Atlas. However, he’s arguably more iconic for the various animated and video game projects he’s lent his famously resonant voice to — including the likes of Mass Effect, Princess Mononoke, Coraline, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and even Dissidia Final Fantasy. But out of all the many, many voice roles in David’s prolific career, these five stand above all the rest.
Goliath (Gargoyles)
One of Keith David’s earliest voiceover roles was that of Goliath, the protagonist of the 1994 Disney cartoon Gargoyles. Created by Greg Weisman, Gargoyles follows a clan of mythical gargoyles who turn to stone during the day, but protect New York City from villainy by night. Goliath is the leader of the Manhattan Clan, earning his name centuries ago thanks to his towering stature and awe-inspiring strength. Despite being the main character of a Saturday morning cartoon, Goliath is typically stoic and dignified in his demeanor — however, he’s a truly kind soul despite his intimidating appearance, and he’d do anything to protect both his family and the city he’s come to call home.
Goliath is a truly multifaceted character, capable of being brooding, compassionate, intellectual, determined, and terrifying, all in the space of a single episode. And true to form, Keith David’s performance brings him to life masterfully. David’s rich and rumbling voice grants Goliath the exact kind of regal, commanding presence he needs. That said, Goliath isn’t always so serious — he’s also been known to show a dry wit when the moment calls for it, and David captures those moments just as well. And of course, no Gargoyles can forget Goliath’s over-the-top reaction to trying a jalapeño pepper for the first time.
Nearly 28 years after Gargoyles first aired, it’s still a cult classic among animation fans, and Goliath remains one of the defining roles of Keith David’s career. In fact, David has become a mainstay of Greg Weisman’s later productions, lending his voice to Tombstone in the first episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man, as well as Mongul in Young Justice. And as for Goliath’s own legacy, David recently appeared in the series finale of the 2017 DuckTales reboot portraying a lighthearted parody of his original Disney role.
Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
But while Goliath may be Keith David’s most iconic Disney character, he isn’t the one who’s received the most mainstream notoriety. That would be Dr. Facilier, the main villain of 2009’s The Princess and the Frog. The film is mainly known these days for being one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ final forays into traditional animation, rather than being remembered for the actual contents of the movie. However, the major exception to this is none other than Dr. Facilier, aka the Shadow Man, a cunning and charismatic witch doctor who schemes to gain control of New Orleans.
Or course, every great Disney villain needs a musical number, and Dr. Facilier is no exception. David gets to flex his singing skills in “Friends on the Other Side”, a classic villain song that’s as catchy as it is ominous. The Princess and the Frog may not be the most beloved Disney movie, but Dr. Facilier is easily one of its biggest highlights, thanks in no small part to David’s performance.
Spawn
However, not all of Keith David’s animated roles are quite so kid-friendly. One of the biggest comic book anti-heroes of the 1990s was Image Comics’ Spawn, created by Todd McFarlane. Despite being more well-known for his 1997 live action film starring Michael Jai White, Spawn made his debut in another medium that same year. Spawn’s own animated series — simply titled Todd McFarlane’s Spawn, aired on HBO from 1997 to 1999 for a total of 18 episodes. And of course, Keith David lent his voice to the titular anti-hero.
David’s bone-chilling delivery granted Spawn the ruthless gravitas he needed, and his performance remains adored by fans of the character to this day. In fact, David’s rendition of Spawn proved so popular that he recently reprised the role in 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11, marking his first portrayal of the character in a video game. He may not be the only actor to have brought Spawn to life, but he’s quite possibly the greatest.
The Arbiter (Halo)
Any list of Keith David’s greatest roles would be incomplete without a mention of Thel 'Vadamee, aka the Arbiter from the Halo video games. Besides the series’ main hero Master Chief, the Arbiter is one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise. Making his debut in Halo 2, the Arbiter is initially a loyal soldier of the alien Covenant, who seeks to reclaim his honor after failing to stop Master Chief. But over the course of his mission, the Arbiter learns that the cause he fights for is a lie, causing him to turn against his masters and form an unlikely alliance with Master Chief that continues into Halo 3. Between Arbiter’s compelling character arc, honorable personality, and David’s brilliant performance, it’s easy to see why the Arbiter is such a fan favorite.
King Andrias (Amphibia)
It may be surprising to see another Disney cartoon concluding this list, standing alongside the likes of Spawn and Halo. But believe it or not, this giant talking salamander is one of the most complex, nuanced, and emotional roles of Keith David’s entire career. Created by Matt Braly, the 2019-2022 animated series Amphibia follows the adventures of Anne Boonchuy, a teen girl from Los Angeles who’s magically transported to the titular Amphibia, an otherworldly kingdom inhabited by sentient frogs, toads, and newts. King Andrias Leviathan, the ruler of Amphibia, is introduced partway into Season 2 — and despite his jovial, silly demeanor, it’s clear right away that he’s hiding a dark secret.
Over time, King Andrias’ true colors come to light in one of the series’ most shocking moments, and the once-kindly monarch reveals how horrifying and coldhearted he can be. Yet despite this, later episodes show that his lighthearted facade wasn’t really a total lie either. Once Andrias’ backstory is revealed, it becomes clear how a good-natured man was guided against his will down the path to tyranny. This development all comes to a head in the final episodes of Season 3, in which David delivers one of the most heart-wrenching performances of his career.
King Andrias can be a charming goofball one moment, a brutal despot in another, and a lonely, guilt-ridden old man in the next. And thanks to David’s skill as an actor, these seemingly-irreconcilable facets all feel like the same character. It’s hard to get into the specifics without revealing major spoilers, and this series is well worth experiencing for yourself. But rest assured that King Andrias from Amphibia is absolutely one of Keith David’s greatest voice roles ever.