Roger Craig Smith

Roger Craig Smith – Voice, Versatility, and the Voices Behind the Voices

Learn about Roger Craig Smith (born August 11, 1975) — the American voice actor behind Sonic, Ezio, Chris Redfield, Captain America, and many more. Explore his life, career, philosophy, and notable quotes.

Introduction

Roger Craig Smith (b. August 11, 1975) is a prolific American voice actor whose vocal performances have shaped some of the most iconic characters in video games, animation, and beyond. From Sonic the Hedgehog to Ezio Auditore, Chris Redfield, Batman, and Captain America, his versatility, emotional range, and professionalism have made him a highly respected figure in voice talent circles. While his face may not always appear onscreen, his voice is instantly recognizable to countless fans across media.

In what follows, we’ll delve into his early life, how he built his voice acting career, his signature roles, what makes his approach unique, memorable remarks and lessons from his journey, and his continuing influence.

Early Life and Background

Roger Craig Smith was born in St. Joseph, Michigan and raised in Tustin, California.

From an early age, Smith engaged in performing arts. While in middle school and high school, he participated in productions via a nonprofit arts organization (MYART) and his high school (Foothill High) productions.

He went on to attend Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, graduating in 2003 with a degree in screenwriting.

His earlier experience in stand-up likely contributed to his adaptability, character work, and vocal control—skills that later translated well into his voice acting craft.

Career & Signature Roles

Roger Craig Smith’s career is extensive and spans video games, animation, narrations, and more. Below are key highlights and roles that define his legacy.

Breakthrough in Video Games & Animation

Smith’s voice acting career started in the mid-2000s, and over time he gained traction through consistent, varied roles.

Some of his signature roles include:

• Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series (from 2009 onward)

• Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin’s Creed series (2009–2011)

• Sonic the Hedgehog, as the English voice in many sonic video games and appearances in cross-media (e.g., Sonic Boom, Wreck-It Ralph)

• Captain America / Steve Rogers in multiple Marvel animation and game projects

• Batman / Bruce Wayne in Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Shadow, and other DC projects

• Kyle Crane in Dying Light

• Mirage in Apex Legends

In addition, he has voiced in narration roles—most notably as the narrator for Say Yes to the Dress since 2007.

His film and animation voice credits also include cameos and supporting roles (e.g. Planes, Wreck-It Ralph, Regular Show, Naruto).

Approach & Highlights

Over the years, Smith has been praised not only for the breadth of his roles, but his ability to bring emotional depth, character consistency, and clarity even under tight recording conditions. He handles both heroic, comedic, and villainous roles well.

He has at times discussed how physically demanding vocal performance can be—especially when doing “efforts” (grunts, screams, exertion sounds) in video games.

Smith has also shown awareness of the vocal health demands of his work—how rest, hydration, and care influence performance.

He credits his stand-up comedy background as formative in creating characters, experimenting with voices, taking risks, and working under pressure.

He also notes that sometimes, because a lot of voice acting is done solo (in booths), he must generate energy and character without live co-actors.

Persona, Style & Philosophy

Roger Craig Smith presents himself as approachable, humble, and deeply invested in character work. Some elements of his style and philosophy:

• He emphasizes the importance of rest, vocal care, and health in sustaining a long voice acting career.

• He sees each new role as an opportunity to push himself, try fresh interpretations, and not simply replicate what’s been done before.

• He often frames his work as a collaborative art: audition, direction, adaptation, and actor agency must align.

• He acknowledges that he did not grow up as a hardcore comic-book fan or game fanatic, which has sometimes given him a fresh or unbiased perspective on major properties.

• He is candid about the emotional and physical toll voice acting can have and speaks openly about vocal fatigue and the necessity of self-care.

• He takes pride in bringing characters to life in a way that feels real—even when the context is fantastical or exaggerated.

He also seems to embrace the idea of being “the voice behind the voices” — investing in the unseen labor of performance, not just the glamour of character fame.

Memorable Quotes

Here are a selection of quotes attributed to Roger Craig Smith that reflect his attitude, insights, and humor:

“I am voice actor Roger Craig Smith. You may know me as Batman, Captain America, Sonic the Hedgehog, Ezio from Assassin’s Creed, Transformers: RID, or narrator of ‘Say Yes To the Dress’ (among many other things). AMA!”

“My favorite job is the next one. It’s such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a different direction.”

“Just to be involved in anything Disney, whether it’s ‘Avengers Assemble’ or ‘Planes’ or straight-to-dvd work, it’s great.”

“Some people work very closely with a director or a producer on something, and from the get go, they’re collaborating. But typically, it’s just go in for an audition, do the best you can, and if the phone rings a couple of days after the audition and you get the part, that’s great.”

“If I don’t get enough sleep, my brain gets fatigued, and the voice suffers. If I’m doing some retail work and trying to read and record legal copy, I start sounding like I had a few too many the night before.”

“The Internet is a bastion of negativity, and we get to sit there and voice our cute, little, important opinions.”

“I grew up playing games, and I remember Christmas 1981 when my dad got us an Intellivision, and we all sat around and played ‘Astrosmash’ for hours on end. It was a big part of my youth.”

These quotes illustrate his humor, realism about his craft, and awareness of both the challenge and joy of voice work.

Legacy & Influence

While still active, Roger Craig Smith has already left a distinct mark on the voice acting industry:

• He has voiced multiple iconic characters simultaneously across franchises, which demands both consistency and adaptability.

• His approach to vocal health, humility about process, and openness about challenges serve as a model for aspiring voice actors.

• He demonstrates that voice actors can hold central franchise roles and still maintain a grounded career ethos—balancing passion with care.

• His background in stand-up suggests that performance roots outside voice acting can significantly enrich one’s ability to create different voices, timing, and character layers.

• He has influenced how character voices are interpreted—bringing emotional nuance even in action-heavy or exaggerated roles.

• Because many of his characters are beloved and widely recognized, his work has helped define how fans hear those personalities (in games, animation, etc.).

Lessons from Roger Craig Smith’s Career

• Care for your instrument: Voice acting demands vocal maintenance, rest, and self-awareness.

• Embrace each new challenge: Rather than staying in one “type,” he pursues different characters and genres.

• Don’t underestimate background experience: His stand-up and character experiments early on shaped his skill.

• Adapt while preserving identity: Even as he voices well-known characters, he finds ways to make them his own.

• Persistence through uncertainty: Many roles begin with auditions and waiting; the ability to persist is vital.

• Collaboration matters: Though much voice work is solo, forging good relationships with directors, writers, and sound engineers is key.

Conclusion

Roger Craig Smith is a powerhouse of modern voice acting. His voice has carried heroes, rogues, narrators, and legends across game worlds and animation universes. But beyond the iconic roles, his career is a case study in craftsmanship, resilience, humility, and continual growth. As his voice continues to animate new stories and reach new audiences, his journey offers inspiration both to fans and to anyone who dreams of lending their own voice to worlds yet to be built.