You are legend in Destiny, these popular actors are just bit parts
Oh my gosh, that's...!
Let's face it: Destiny's voice actors don't have much they can chew into. In the year since its release, Destiny's expansions - including the megaton additions in The Taken King - have done a lot to flesh out the story, but you won't find too many long monologues or gripping dramatic scenes throughout the cinematic plot. You may not even realize how many instantly recognizable actors are part of Destiny's cast, which is full of talent that in hindsight seems startlingly underutilized.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of every voice actor in Destiny - just the ones you'll definitely recognize, even if you didn't identify their voice right away. Peter Dinklage's performance as your Ghost may be dead and gone, but these roles will continue to be a part of your daily Destiny routine. Knowing who reads the lines for the many supporting characters in Bungie's massively multiplayer universe could make you see those bit players in a whole new light.
Nathan Fillion - Cayde-6, Hunter Vanguard
In Destiny, he's: The head honcho for the Hunter class, this Exo is the guy to talk to whenever you need Hunter armor or a pep-talk on fighting the good fight. He's also crucial to the overarching story content in The Taken King.
But you probably know him better from: You've got at least starter-level nerd cred if you instantly recognize Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds, the rugged, dashing captain of the ragtag crew in Firefly and its film follow-up Serenity. He's also gained mainstream recognition as the lead on Castle, where he plays a crime-solving author, as well as roles in cult classics like Slither and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Judging by Fillion's numerous appearances in the Halo series, it's safe to say the folks at Bungie have a thing for Captain Hammer - and really, who could blame them?
Gina Torres - Ikora Rey, Warlock Vanguard
In Destiny, she's: Warlocks know to visit this soft-spoken sage for any class-specific quests and gear whenever they stop by the Tower.
But you probably know her better from: Like Fillion, Torres is an alumni from the cast of Firefly/Serenity, where she played the ship's second-in-command (and distinguished crackshot) Zoe Washburne. Fans of TV drama might also recognize her from Alias and 24; more recently, Torres has played key roles as Jessica Pearson on Suits or Bella Crawford on Hannibal.
Lance Reddick - Commander Zavala, Titan Vanguard
In Destiny, he's: Rounding out the Vanguard trinity at the Tower's command center, Zavala tutors Titans and doles out some early story quests.
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But you probably know him better from: Reddick's distinct, baritone voice exudes authority, which surely helped him nail iconic roles as Phillip Broyles on Fringe and the pivotal Lt. Cedric Daniels on HBO's The Wire. He's also had some brief stints on Law & Order, Lost, and Oz. Nowadays, you can catch Reddick on Bosch and the upcoming Quantum Break TV show that ties in with the game.
Lauren Cohan - Exo Stranger
In Destiny, she's: One of the most mysterious (and still unexplained) parts of Destiny's main story, the Exo Stranger keeps tabs on your Guardian and eventually rewards them with a legendary pulse rifle.
But you probably know her better from: Fans of AMC's The Walking Dead will surely recognize Cohan as Maggie Greene, one of the most crucial survivors in the whole series. Cohan's also made appearances on Chuck, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural.
Lennie James - Lord Shaxx, Crucible Handler
In Destiny, he's: The overseer of all things PvP in Destiny, Shaxx is the one narrating your team's every triumph (and failure) during each match in the Crucible.
But you probably know him better from: James is another recognizable face from The Walking Dead, where he plays one of Rick Grimes' earliest allies, Morgan Jones. James is also the lead of the new ER drama Critical, Robert Hawkins on Jericho, and the bumbling criminal Sol in Guy Ritchie's cult classic Snatch.
Bill Nighy - The Speaker
In Destiny, he's: Because that giant white orb known as The Traveller has a hard time chatting with Guardians, The Speaker is there to act as its surrogate quest-giver/speech-maker.
But you probably know him better from: Nighy's been in countless films and shows dating all the way back to the '80s, but his most mainstream roles include the washed-up rocker Billy Mack in Love Actually and the tentacle-faced Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. You may also recognize him from his parts in Hot Fuzz, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the primary villain Viktor in the Underworld franchise.
James Remar - Executor Hideo, New Monarchy Merchant
In Destiny, he's: A mild-mannered vendor representing the New Monarchy faction (with no known relation to Metal Gear Solid godfather Hideo Kojima).
But you probably know him better from: Remar's another veteran actor, with dozens of on-camera and voiceover roles under his belt. You most likely recognize him as father figure and imaginary confidant Harry Morgan on Dexter; he's also had some great turns on animated shows such as Ben 10 and The Legend of Korra. And I'll never forget his breakout role as the smarmy tough guy Ajax in The Warriors.
Peter Stormare - Arach Jalaal, Dead Orbit Merchant
In Destiny, he's: Another peripheral vendor hanging around the Tower, representing the black-and-white-centric Dead Orbit faction.
But you probably know him better from: This Swedish actor's unmistakable mug has shown up all over the place, but most will know him from his roles in films by the Coen brothers, where he played the short-tempered crook Gaear in Fargo and a ferret-owning nihilist/porn star in The Big Lebowski. He's also a crucial character on Prison Break, and his lent his pipes to several other video games including Until Dawn and both of the Mercenaries games.
April Stewart - Petra Venj, The Queen's Emissary
In Destiny, she's: As one of the most trusted servants of Mara Sov, queen of the Awoken, Petra Venj is the vendor for the Queen's Wrath faction.
But you probably know her better from:Just as Matt Stone and Trey Parker provide the voices for most of the characters on the profane cartoon megahit South Park, Stewart does the voices for the lion's share of the female cast, including iconic Colorado citizens Wendy Testaberger, Sharon Marsh, and Liane Cartman. That's right: Cartman's mom is one of the Reef's most trusted intermediaries.
Lucas Sullivan is the former US Managing Editor of GamesRadar+. Lucas spent seven years working for GR, starting as an Associate Editor in 2012 before climbing the ranks. He left us in 2019 to pursue a career path on the other side of the fence, joining 2K Games as a Global Content Manager. Lucas doesn't get to write about games like Borderlands and Mafia anymore, but he does get to help make and market them.