Joseph D. Kucan Explained

Joseph Kucan
Notable Works:	Kane in Command & Conquer
Occupation:	Video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, casting director

Joseph David Kucan is an American video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, and casting director for various gaming companies and films. He is a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is well known for his role as Kane from the Command & Conquer series.^[1]

Career

Kucan started working with Westwood Studios in 1992. He was originally hired to direct the voice talent, but as CD-ROMs became more popular, he began to experiment with recording full motion video.^[2] In the Command & Conquer saga, Kucan portrays the series' most iconic character, Kane, the messianic/prophetic leader of a pseudo-religious mass movement with transhumanist ambitions called The Brotherhood of Nod.^[3]

He is also featured in and the subsequent expansion pack for both PC and Xbox 360, where he reprises his role as Kane. This was the first entry in the series he did not direct.^[4] In 2008, Kucan was inducted into the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 as the longest recurring actor in any video game franchise to date for his portrayal of Kane.^[3]

He reprised his role once again as Kane in which marked the conclusion of the Tiberian series and thus the role of Kane.^[3] In 2020, the role of Kane was again taken up by Kucan for a trailer for remasters of the original Command & Conquer and Red Alert. He also helped Petroglyph Games out by providing old assets for the remasters in the form of old beta max tapes and CDs.^[5]

In 2013, Kucan, along with his partner, Ann-Marie Pereth, and brother, Daniel Kucan, founded A Public Fit Theatre Company based in Las Vegas, NV.^[6]

Games

• The Legend of Kyrandia - Book One (1992), Virgin Games (voiced Brandon)
• The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Two: The Hand of Fate (1993), Virgin Games (voiced the narrator, implied to be Brandon)
• (1993), Westwood Studios (voiced Nathaniel the Herbalist / Phillip)
• The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Three: Malcolm's Revenge (1994), Virgin Interactive (voiced Brandon)
• Monopoly (1995), Hasbro Interactive
• Command & Conquer (1995), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
• (1996), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
• Lands of Lore II: Guardians of Destiny (1997), Avalon Interactive (directed cut-scenes)
• Blade Runner (1997), Virgin Interactive (voiced Crazylegs Larry, wrote the script and directed voice-over)
• Dune 2000 (1998), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes)
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation (1999), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes)
• (1999), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
• Nox (2000), Westwood Pacific (directed voice-over)
• Command & Conquer: Firestorm (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes)
• (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
• (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
• (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes)
• (2002), Westwood Studios - EA Games (voiced Kane and directed cut-scenes)
• (2002), Westwood Studios
• (2007), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
• (2008), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
• (2010), EA Los Angeles (played Kane)
• Command & Conquer Remastered Collection (2020), Petroglyph Games

Notes and References

1. Web site: Joseph Kucan Finds Celebrity As Computer-Game Villain. Takahashi. Dean. The Wall Street Journal. 2000-03-16. 2016-12-17.
2. Raising Kane: The Joe Kucan Interview . https://web.archive.org/web/20080404050035/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200803/N08.0331.1152.21808.htm . Ahrens . Nick . . 2008-03-31 . 2008-04-04 . 2016-12-17 . dead .
3. Web site: Command & Conquer 4's Joe Kucan. Welsh. Oli. Eurogamer. 2009-11-16. 2016-12-17.
4. Web site: Q&A: C&C3's Kane speaks!. . GameSpot. 2007-02-15. 2016-12-17.
5. Web site: 2020-06-04. Command & Conquer Remastered Collection: Joe Kucan returns as Kane. 2020-06-06. VentureBeat. en-US.
6. Web site: APF Founder/Producing Director: Joseph Kucan; A Public Fit Theatre Company . A Public Fit Theatre Company . 3 October 2018.