Most voice actors garner praise from fans for their strong presence in nostalgic works, their expansive diversity in characters, or for their ability to create bizarre and unworldly sounds.
Steven Downes. He garners respect.
Whether you’re listening to his voice narrate a program for The Discover Channel, tell you about the newest thing for Carnival Cruiselines, or host nationally syndicated and well received radio programs, Steve’s comforting yet authoritative (and often gravely and intense) voice brings with it a trust in the power of the words he’s saying.
Many would know him from his hosting days on national radio stations like “The Classics” and “The Wine Experience”, and Chicagoans might know him from WDRV “The Drive”, announcing the Rock ‘N Roll classics for years. Others may recall his work on The Shark Attack Files from The Discovery Channel. But easily the most recognizable in the voice work Steve has done is in the provision of the iconic titular character in the Halo franchise: Master Chief.
Yeah, you all know this guy’s image, right?
Steve’s respected voice is no better showcased than in the much esteemed super soldier who’s taken the world by storm for more than a decade now.
Master Chief is this generation’s Clint Eastwood. In fact, that was some of the only direction Downes received when coming in to read for Halo’s main character. Having previously done voice work for another game called Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator back in 1999, Steve met a man named Martin O’Donnell. Martin had worked as the voice acting director and music composer for Septerra and eventually moved on to Bungie to work on Halo: Combat Evolved. Martin remembered Steve and asked him to come in and read for this new character. Channeling Clint’s western movie persona, Steve gave birth to the voice of Master Chief. The voice of respect.
For years Steve worked as a radio host by day (and very early mornings), and as Master Chief by night. He’d practice his lines in his whisper booth down in his basement and record the actual game dialogue in a Chicago studio called “Resolution Digital”. Keeping his mouth as close to his mic. as possible, he delivers the lines with a quiet and complete confidence, almost a whisper, that signifies control and command.
But how does Steve actually perform in Halo? Well, that’s another story… He says he plays Halo “Very, very badly.” Him and his wife were once asked to make an appearance at a store opening in Miami where they were having a Halo tournament. When they arrived he was told the winner would be able to play thee voice of Master Chief in a round. Steve urged that it wasn’t going to turn out well, but the crew persisted. With a big crowd around him and giant flat screens set up for the event, Downes sat down and began to play. Within ten seconds, he says, a 12 year old girl annihilated him.
But this doesn’t stop kids and adults around the world from their deep rooted love and respect for this man and his voice. When Steve visited a friend’s house after the first game had been out for about a year, he commented to a group of kids playing Halo that he voiced a character for it. At that time it was so fresh that Steve couldn’t even recall the character’s name. When one kid asked “was it Master Chief?” He responded with, “Yeah, that’s it!” Within a few minutes there was a long line of children waiting to get their stuff signed.
Originally Steve entered radio to move on to record producing, but stayed because of his love for music and the “ham” in him desiring to be an on-air personality. Well his desire to be an appreciated talent has been more than fulfilled. Since his original days of voice work back in the late 70’s, Steve has created a legacy that will continue to bring him respect from people around the world for years to come.
To all the performers out there…which emotion do you garner from audiences? Are you capitalizing on it?
NEXT EDITION’S FEATURED VOICE ACTOR: Did someone drop a penny? It’s Mr. Krabs’s Clancy Brown!
Chrispoiriervo 