Voice Acting Who is the Voice of Ultron from the Avengers?
Welcome to the second addition to our Voice of Series. Today, we will be focusing on the voice behind the menacing Ultron, the corrupted artificial intelligence created by Bruce Banner and Tony Stark. Ultron is a powerful villain known best as the main antagonist in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Ultron has superhuman abilities, telekinesis, technology manipulation, etc.
So, who is the voice of Ultron? Who portrayed the cold-heartedness of Ultron to a T? Who showcases the god-complex of Ultron through phenomenal voice acting? It’s a layered question since there has been more than one Ultron over the years.
While most readers will be wondering who voiced Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron (it’s James Spader from ‘The Blacklist’, ‘The Office’ and ‘Boston Legal’. There have been a handful of talented voice actors who’ve voiced the infamous Marvel character.
Jump To:
John Stocker – The Avengers: United They Stand
Tom Kane – Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Jim Meskimen – Avengers Assemble
Michael Dobson – Marvel Super Hero Adventures
James Spader – Avengers: Age of Ultron
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John Stocker – The Avengers: United They Stand
The first person to ever voice Ultron was John Stocker back in 1999 when The Avengers: United They Stand was released. John Stocker is known for being on many shows throughout the 80s and 90s. These roles were on shows such as Care Bears, The Adventures of Tintin, Alf, etc.
With John’s experience and variety of voices, he was the perfect person to voice the ruthless Ultron. Being the first to bat, John Stocker knocked it out of the park. His take on Ultron displayed the wicked side of Ultron as best as possible at the time. Ultron’s voice was guttural and showcased the diabolical side of Ultron.
Tom Kane – Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Tom Kane is the second person to voice Ultron and possibly the best. Tom Kane is known for multiple appearances in the Star Wars universe, Batman games, Powerpuff Girls, Wild Thornberries, The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow. He is nothing short of a legend in the voice acting business with a career spanning thirty years.
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is one of the most well-known superhero shows of the past decade, and Tom Kane made his mark in it. In only six episodes, Ultron became a magnetic figure drawing in Marvel fans all over. Tom Kane’s standout performance still has fans believing he is the definitive Ultron, which is quite a feat due to the competition.
Tom quite possibly had the perfect representation of Ultron through voice. He was intimidating, detestable, and heartless. Tom Kane portrayed all of these qualities and more through his deep, raspy, and robotic tone. Even though this could be the best iteration of Ultron, some others are pretty good as well.
Jim Meskimen – Avengers Assemble
The next voice actor for Ultron is Jim Meskimen, an incredible actor with legendary roles. Jim has been on Alvin and the Chipmunks, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jimmy Neutron, and Avengers Assemble.
Jim’s portrayal of Ultron in Avengers Assemble is a bit tamer in comparison to the previous voice. However, the calmness of this version of Ultron truly shows how emotionless Ultron truly is. The robotic coldness of his voice is intense and matches the ruthlessness of his character.
An interesting tidbit about this role of Ultron is that it was cast shortly before Avengers: Age of Ultron. Everyone knew who was voicing Ultron, James Spader, but they did not know what he would sound like.
So, the casting team tried to find someone that would sound similar to James Spader’s Ultron, without knowing anything. Thankfully, Jim Meskimen made his version of Ultron that got the job done, as he took the helm of Ultron.
Michael Dobson – Marvel Super Hero Adventures
The next person to voice Ultron was Micahel Dobson in Marvel Super Hero Adventures. Michael Dobson is best known for his roles in Max Steel, G.I. Joe, Krypto the Superdog, and Peter Pan.
It’s difficult to compare Michael’s version of Ultron to the previous iterations of Ultron, since it is a kid-friendly take. Marvel Super Hero Adventures is a kid’s show that shows Ultron’s aggressiveness when he first appears.
Later in the show, however, a different side to the corrupted AI is shown. Ultron sounds more arrogant and truly captures the essence of kid cartoons, especially the older ones. This portrayal of Ultron is reminiscent of the iconic Dick Dastardly because of his pompous attitude and slyness. MSHA’s Ultron has a calm voice but still shows a wacky side of the character we have never seen.
James Spader – Avengers: Age of Ultron
James Spader’s take on Ultron is the most recognizable since it is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Avengers: Age of Ultron is the second installment in the Avengers film series, which has Ultron as the main antagonist. James Spader is known for his roles in ‘The Blacklist’ and ‘The Office’, so becoming a haunting villain showed his talent.
This first live-action take on Ultron truly made the character feel real, making his destructive power all the more fearsome. This movie’s Ultron adds all the elements of the previous Ultron, except for MSHA, while still allowing for Spader to make the character his own. Ultron sounds sadistic and cold, but with a calm self-assured demeanor that keeps the audience second-guessing if the Avengers can take the AI down.
As of now, it is unlikely is James Spader will return as Ultron since the Avengers have moved on from the character. But, we never know who the Avengers may face in the future. If Ultron ever did appear again, you can bet that James Spader will be the one voicing him – the MCU loves their continuity.
Conclusion
As you can see, there have been many phenomenal actors to depict the all-mighty Ultron over the years. Each brought something new to the table while still keeping the appealing quality of Ultron from the comics. Even Micahel Dobson’s kid-friendly version of Ultron was an interesting take that young ones can gravitate to.
From on a page to on the big screen, these exceptional voice actors brought their characters to life, and you can too. Find the voice for you with our assistance. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices to help them find professionals willing to take their projects to the next level. Post your job today on the world’s #1 Voice Marketplace.
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