You may not know the name Ray Chase, but if you’re an anime fan (and judging by recent box office results, you probably are), you have definitely heard his voice. From iconic dubbing roles to voicing the leader of the X-Men and even the villain of a gonzo horror movie, Chase’s career is worthy of studying for any aspiring VO actor, especially in the world of anime. Let’s take a look (and a listen).
“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (2012–): Bruno Bucciarati
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a theater degree, Chase embarked on his career in a similar way to many of you reading this: by applying to gig after gig on Voice123. One of his first major breaks came in 2012, when he voiced the minor antagonist Donovan on the first season of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure,” the adaptation of the long-running manga series from writer-illustrator Hirohiko Araki. That opened the door for Chase to return in 2018 to play mafioso boss Bruno Bucciarati, an undeniable standout of Season 4. Sure, he may be a walking Italian stereotype—as is common on this anime—but Chase gives Bucciarati enough gravitas and nuance to balance the hilarious over-the-topness. This kickstarted a long run in anime dubbing that continues to this day and includes projects like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” “One-Punch Man,” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
“Fallout 4” (2015): A deleted role
Chase told the Natural Aristocrat that he played a substantial part in the fourth entry of Bethesda’s “Fallout” video game series, but his character was removed late in the process. What’s important to note here is that he made enough of an impression that he eventually returned for 2018’s “Fallout 76” and that game’s 2020 expansion, “Fallout 76: Wastelanders.” From the gruff and aggressive (yet surprisingly warm) Super Mutant merchant Grahm to the suave but sinister human business manager Simon Gladwell, Chase shows off impressive range within the postapocalyptic “Fallout” world.
“X-Men ’97” (2024–): Scott Summers, aka Cyclops
The beauty of animated characters is they can last forever, which means any VO performer should be able to step into another actor’s shoes while honoring their legacy. This was the case for Chase when he joined the cast of Disney+’s “X-Men ’97” as eye-beam-blasting mutant Cyclops, taking over from the late Norm Spencer, who voiced the role on “X-Men: The Animated Series” (1992–1997). Chase’s performance is familiar enough to maintain the continuity that started all the way back with the original show, while adding a dry humor and sarcasm that makes this version feel fresh, with Cyclops more comfortable in his skin after gaining a position of leadership. It’s not only an impressive individual feat; it also helps sell the overall time jump between the ’90s show and the revival.
“Malignant” (2021): Gabriel
A life as a consistent, working voice actor can lead to many different kinds of projects, and not all of them will be in animation. Sometimes, you’ll lend your voice to one of the most bonkers horror movies of the past few years. Chase may not have many lines in James Wan’s supernatural slasher “Malignant,” but every sinister hiss and grunt adds to the mystery of the main antagonist, a black-gloved psycho named Gabriel. (Contortionist and actor Marina Mazepa performed the antagonist’s physical movements.) No spoilers as to exactly how that mystery turns out, but suffice it to say Chase’s performance highlights just how important a voice is to crafting a memorable character.
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” (2020): Tengen Uzui
“Demon Slayer” is arguably the most popular animated franchise in the world; the manga source material surpassed 200 million copies sold, and the 2025 film notched nearly $900 million worldwide, surpassing James Gunn’s “Superman” and becoming the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time. It’s no surprise that Chase is a part of that success, providing the English voice for one of the series’ most beloved supporting parts, Tengen Uzui. This is a character that, on paper, could go wrong quickly. He’s absurdly flashy—literally, he inserts the word “flashy” into almost every sentence he says—and feels incredibly overpowered in the world of the show. And yet, Chase commits to the energy and adds a ton of heart to Tengen, balancing the exuberance with an irresistible charm.