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Ned Luke

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Ned Luke
Luke in 2024
Born (1958-10-04) October 4, 1958 (age 66)
Other namesNed von Leuck
OccupationActor
Years active
  • 1984–2007
  • 2009–present
Spouse
Amy Sax
(m. 1997)
Children1

Ned Armstrong Luke (born October 4, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Michael De Santa in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.[1] Luke also voiced Raffles in the animated movie Rover Dangerfield. He has appeared in 29 movies and television shows as well as over 100 commercials.

Early life

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Ned Luke was born on October 4, 1958[2][3] in Danville, Illinois, to Cindy (née Smith) and Fred Luke.[citation needed]

Career

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Luke's first major voice role was in Rover Dangerfield, where he played a sheepdog named Raffles opposite Rodney Dangerfield. He was cast as a guest star in several TV shows throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and has appeared in about 100 television commercials featuring products such as Budweiser and Burger King.

In 2007, having grown disenchanted with show business and desiring that his son experience where he grew up, Luke decided to take a break from acting and moved his family from Los Angeles to his hometown of Danville, where he opened a restaurant with his brother. After two years, he decided to return to acting and he and his family moved to Ossining, New York. His agent suggested he audition for the role of Michael De Santa, one of the three protagonists of Rockstar Games' 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V. Luke initially scoffed at the idea of being in a video game, but after reading the script he decided to proceed with the audition and, alongside Shawn Fonteno and Steven Ogg, was eventually cast.[4] Grand Theft Auto V went on to set several sales records and has become the 2nd highest grossing video game in history.[5]

He continued to work with Rockstar Games after the release of Grand Theft Auto V, providing uncredited voice work on the 2018 game Red Dead Redemption 2. Luke also guest starred on Boardwalk Empire.[6]

Personal life

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Luke has been married to his wife Amy Sax, since 1997.[7] Together, they have a son.[1]

On November 23, 2023, Luke was swatted during a Thanksgiving livestream of Grand Theft Auto Online on his YouTube channel. While some fans accused Rockstar Games of failing to protect players' IP addresses, Luke refuted these claims and attributed the incident to his personal information being previously leaked online.[8][9]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Bear Football Player
1991 Rover Dangerfield Raffles Voice only, supporting role
1996 The Nutty Professor Construction Worker Uncredited
1999 Citation of Merit Sergeant Smith Short film
2017 American Gothic Bill

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Angel Street Officer Episode: "The Blonde in the Pond"
1994 Guiding Light Sheriff 2 episodes
1995 NYPD Blue Lawyer Episode: "Cold Heaters"
1996 Murder One Conspiracy Guy Episode: "Chapter Eleven"
1996 Renegade Andy Warwick Episode: "The Milk Carton Kid"
1997 On the Line Officer Al Television film
1997 The Burning Zone 2nd Officer Episode: "Critical Mass"
1997 High Incident Gary Butterworth Episode: "Remote Control"
1999 General Hospital Body Guard 2 episodes
1999 City Guys Lonnie Collins Episode: "Miracle on 134th Street and Lexington Avenue"
2000 The Pretender David Arnold Episode: "Junk"
2000 JAG Senior Chief Petty Officer Bracken Episode: "Drop Zone"
2000 The Huntress Detective Ellard Episode: "The Kid"
2000 Diagnosis Murder Timmons Episode: "The Patient Detective"
2002
2003
2013
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Wilmont
Roger Swanson
Mr. Thurber
Season 3: "Popular"
Season 4: "Mercy"
Season 15: "Surrender Benson"
2004 Third Watch Ron Connelly Episode: "Greatest Detectives in the World"
2005 As the World Turns Detective Langstorm 2 episodes
2005 Jonny Zero Officer Muncie Episode: "To Serve and to Protect"
2002–2005 All My Children Fire Chief / Private Investigator 3 episodes
2005 Law & Order Ken Cosgrove Episode: "New York Minute"
2009 Katana Executive Episode: "Pilot"
2013 Boardwalk Empire Boorish Man Episode: "All In"
2015 Unfiltered Randolph Wiley Lead role, unreleased

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Grand Theft Auto V Michael De Santa Voice and motion capture
2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 Various strangers Voice unreleased, motion capture

Commercials

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2024 Asus - Republic of Gamers [10]

Accolades

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Year Nominee/work Award Result
2014 Grand Theft Auto V Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Gaudiosi, John. "Preview: 'GTA V' actor Ned Luke talks". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  2. ^ Luke, Ned [@ned_luke] (October 18, 2013). "55 is the new 35 bitches" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Luke, Ned [@ned_luke] (October 5, 2020). "Thanks all y'all for the birthday wishes. Much appreciated" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Molina, Brett. "Interview: Crime pays for 'Grand Theft Auto V' actors". USA Today. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  5. ^ Chalk, Andy (November 7, 2017). "Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling videogame of all time in the US". PC Gamer.
  6. ^ Furn, Daniel (September 8, 2022). "GTA 5 voice actors: Full cast and where you know them from". Radio Times. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Luke, Ned [@ned_luke] (November 12, 2022). "She's put up with me for 25 years now...Happy Anniversary to my much better half #Amy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️" (Tweet). Retrieved September 7, 2024 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Phillips, Tom (November 24, 2023). "GTA 5 Michael actor Ned Luke swatted while playing on Thanksgiving stream". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (November 24, 2023). "Actor Who Played Michael in GTA 5 Swatted While Streaming, Defends Rockstar Despite Fan Outcry". IGN. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Prescott, Lane (August 16, 2024). "ROG teams up with iconic voice actors in cheeky new video". Asus (ROG). Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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