

When approaching any project I work to make the character believable and real. How do you feel about playing one of the game’s villains? What measures did you take to bring humanity to Big Smoke? After all, he’s one of the game’s most beloved characters. My fondest memory bringing Big Smoke to life was talking about my ups and downs and wild and crazy last experiences in my career with the engineers and producers. I bonded more with the engineers and producers for the project because we worked very closely to make sure Big Smoke felt real. HNHH: Before signing on to join San Andreas, what initially drew you to the project?Ĭlifton Powell: I knew that Grand Theft Auto would give me the opportunity to break into voice-overs as well as to continue to connect with a younger generation.ĭid you bond with your fellow Grove Street Members at all during the recording sessions? What is your fondest memory bringing Big Smoke to life? In honor of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' 15th Anniversary, here are five questions with the man who brought Big Smoke to life, actor Clifton Powell. Between his iconic fast-food order and the oft-quoted "YOU PICKED THE WRONG HOUSE FOOL," Big Smoke has cemented himself in the pantheon of great gaming characters. Particularly the Grove Street Four: protagonist CJ, the Eazy-E inspired Ryder (voiced by MC Eiht), the stoic Sweet, and the game's most quotable and arguably enduring figure Big Smoke. The character of 8-Ball also appeared in Grand Theft Auto Advance for the Game Boy Advance, but the game didn’t have any spoken dialogue.Though many became enamored with the brilliantly immersive setting, it was the characters that left the lasting impact. Guru later reprised his 8-Ball role in Liberty City Stories, his last acting job before he sadly passed away in 2010. While his musical talents weren’t put to use in GTA 3, Guru’s work with Gang Starr was later featured on the soundtracks for San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. Afterward, 8-Ball helps Claude get to safety by guiding him to the game’s first true mission, and he later runs an automobile bomb shop and helps Claude procure explosives.
#Gta san andreas voice actors series#
Related: GTA Trilogy: All PS5, Xbox Series X, & Nintendo Switch DifferencesĨ-Ball is introduced as one of Grand Theft Auto 3's characters when he and Claude escape their shared prison transport in the game’s opening cutscene. In music, Guru’s monotone vocal delivery was legendary, and he brings that same cool approach to his dialogue as demolitions expert 8-Ball. This is why it felt natural for the studio to take their love for hip-hop a step further and utilize the voice acting talents of Gang Starr MC and jazz rap icon Keith Edward Elam, better known as Guru. GTA 3's soundtrack proved that Rockstar was tuned into Y2K hip-hop, and the in-game rap station, Game Radio, featured songs from Sean Price, Black Rob, and Royce Da 5’9. GTA 3's Famous Voices - Joe Pantoliano As Luigi Goterelli The game also pioneered Rockstar's cinematic approach to storytelling, and although the studio hasn't continued to use celebrity talent in quite the same way, there's no overstating GTA 3's influence. The game revolutionized the Grand Theft Auto series' gameplay and took the series into the open-world genre where it has stayed since. GTA 3 set a precedent for future Rockstar titles across multiple different areas. Related: Are GTA Trilogy Remasters Why There's No GTA 6?

GTA 3 features a number of great performances throughout its story, with members of its cast having previously worked on crime dramas such as The Sopranos and Goodfellas. Despite the trilogy boasting updated graphics and improved controls, there have been no announced changes to the voice cast, meaning that players will be able to revisit the game’s Hollywood-ready performances. GTA 3 will be included in the upcoming Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, which will remaster 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. Still, several of the game’s colorful supporting characters were brought to life by major industry names, many of whom had previously starred in well-known crime films. Despite the protagonists in later games being voiced by famous actors, such as Vice City 's Tommy Vercetti (who was portrayed by Ray Liotta), GTA 3’s protagonist, Claude, never speaks a line of dialogue. As the first 3D entry in the series, GTA 3 was also the first game to include a star-studded cast.

Since the release of Grand Theft Auto 4, Rockstar has shifted away from using celebrity voice actors, but there was a time when entries such as Grand Theft Auto III were populated with A-List voice talent.
