Christopher Judge Explained

Christopher Judge
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor, voice actor
Years Active:1990–present
Children:3, including Cameron
Height:6'3"

Christopher Judge is an American actor. He is best known for playing Teal'c in the Canadian-American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1, and for being the second actor to portray Kratos in the God of War video game series, playing the role in God of War (2018) and its sequel God of War Ragnarök (2022). He attended the University of Oregon on a football scholarship and was a Pacific-10 Conference player.

Early life

Judge wanted to be an actor from an early age, and studied drama in high school.[1] "The television set was my babysitter growing up. I can remember wanting to invoke the feelings that I was getting from television—I wanted to be the one who was the catalyst for those feelings in other people. Performing was something I've always known I was going to do."[2] He always knew that sports would be a stepping stone to an acting career.[3]

Judge received a scholarship from the University of Oregon and played defensive back and safety for the Ducks from 1982 to 1985. He led in kickoff return yardage for 1983-84 and interceptions in 1984, and won the Casanova Award in 1982,[4] awarded to the freshman or newcomer of the year. While at Oregon, Judge was a Pacific-10 Conference Selection in 1984 and played in the 1985 Hula Bowl.[4]

Judge won a contest to host a radio show in Oregon, and in his senior year he won a regional contest to host the West Coast FOX KLSR Morning Show,[5] an "MTV talk show type thing"; he used this experience to get an agent and move back to Los Angeles.[6]

Career

Acting

In 1989 Judge began studying at the Howard Fine Studio in Los Angeles.[6] His early roles in the 1990s included Bird on a Wire, Cadence, Neon Rider and MacGyver with future Stargate SG-1 star Richard Dean Anderson. In the ensuing years, Judge had small parts in various television shows and films such as 21 Jump Street (with future SG-1 director Peter DeLuise), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and House Party 2, and as a regular on Sirens from 1994 to 1995.

Judge's largest role came in 1997 with Stargate SG-1. While at a friend's house, he saw his friend's roommate practicing for an audition for the show and was intrigued. While the roommate was away, Judge looked at the audition notes, called his agent, and insisted he get him an audition or lose him as a client.[7] At the audition, there were three actors trying out for each of the other principal roles, but eight or ten for the role of Teal'c. Judge was confident that he had acquired the part when they dismissed everyone who had read for the part except him.[2]

Judge's subsequent work includes guest spots on Andromeda, Stargate Atlantis, The Mentalist, the television film Personal Effects, and the films Snow Dogs and A Dog's Breakfast, the latter written and directed by fellow Stargate actor David Hewlett. Judge appeared in "Anonymous", the October 26, 2010 episode of , and as one of Bane's henchmen in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises.

Writing

Judge wrote four Stargate SG-1 episodes: season five's "The Warrior", season six's "The Changeling", season seven's "Birthright", and season eight's "Sacrifices".

After Stargate SG-1 was cancelled, Judge began writing a script for a show called Rage of Angels that would have enabled him to play "the lead in an hour formatted show and prove that a black lead can be commercially viable and sustainable in overseas markets."[8] The script was marketed as a two-hour, back door pilot with MGM,[8] but is now apparently with Direct TV and Starz Media.[9]

Voice work

Judge has also done voice acting for animated series and video games, including Magneto on , and the canceled .

In the season eight episode, "Avatar", Teal'c informs SG-1 that he plays Def Jam Vendetta, alluding to the fact that Judge had provided the voice of D-Mob, the main antagonist in that game. He once again appeared as D-Mob in the sequel, . He voiced Jericho in Turok.

Judge provided the voice of Zodak on the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon as well as Coach Grey in the Action Man CGI series from 2000.

On June 14, 2016, Judge confirmed he was the voice actor for Kratos in the 2018 God of War, replacing long time Kratos voice actor Terrence C. Carson.[10] He reprised the role in God of War Ragnarök.[11]

Personal life

Judge is involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada and is an avid golfer.[12]

His son, Cameron, is a professional Canadian football linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders; Cameron played college football for UCLA and was drafted 2nd overall in the 2017 CFL Draft.[13] His other son, Christopher Jordan, played college football for Cal Poly and was drafted 71st overall in the 2019 CFL Draft.[14]

According to tweets from Judge, he could not walk in 2019, and he had to undergo surgery to have both his hips replaced, alongside back and knee surgery.[15]

Awards and nominations

In 2002, Judge was nominated for a Saturn Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his work on Stargate SG-1.[16]

On February 13, 2019 at the 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Judge accepted the award for Outstanding Achievement in Character for his performance as Kratos in God of War.[17] [18] During 2023's 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Judge again accepted the award for Outstanding Achievement in Character as Kratos in God of War Ragnarök.[19]

In 2019, Judge was nominated for the British Academy Games Award for Performer at the 15th British Academy Games Awards, but he lost to his co-star Jeremy Davies.[20] He was subsequently nominated for and won the Performer in a Leading Role at the 19th British Academy Games Awards in 2023.[21]

In 2022, Judge won the award for Best Performance at Game Awards 2022 for his role in God of War Ragnarök as Kratos; his acceptance speech went for 7 minutes and 59 seconds.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1990Bird on a WireCop at CafeCredited as Doug Judge
CadencePsych. Ward M.P. #1Credited as Douglas Judge
1991House Party 2MilesCredited as D. Christopher Judge
1997Stargate: Children of the GodsTeal'cDirect-to-video
2001Out of LineAlfonso James
2002Snow DogsDr. Brooks
Romantic Comedy 101NigelTelevision film
2005Personal EffectsNate Wall
2007data-sort-value="Dog's Breakfast, A" A Dog's BreakfastChris
2008Teal'cDirect-to-video
Max Steel: Bio CrisisJefferson (voice)
2010ParadoxCaptain Papillo
2011Nickolas Kuttner[22] Voice; direct-to-video
RehabCharles
2012data-sort-value="Dark Knight Rises, The" The Dark Knight RisesMercenary Assassin #3 (as read in official movie credits)Mercenary Security #4 (as read in IMDb credits)
Clash of the EmpiresAmtharDirect-to-video
2013SmokinJimShort
2014Mega Shark vs. Mecha SharkJack Turner
data-sort-value="Tiger's Tail, A" A Tiger's TailJoe Camp
Knock 'em DeadFreddy
To Have and to HoldSampson
WraithWraithVoice; short
data-sort-value="Underground Railroad, The" The Underground RailroadBear
ReaperOfficer Banks
LA Apocalypse (Doomed Planet)Lt. Grisham
LowlifesCommander Randall
NobilityAdmiral Nev
2015Secret Service Agent
2015Lord of the ElvesAnthar Master of the Hunt
2018Minutes to MidnightRanger Taso

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990Neon Rider
MacGyverDeronEpisode: "Live and Learn", credited as Doug Judge
21 Jump StreetMan in QueueEpisode: "Unfinished Business", uncredited
BookerJones/Mover2 episodes
1994–1995SirensOff. Richard StilesRecurring role, season 2 (22 episodes); credited as D. Christopher Judge
1995data-sort-value="Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" The Fresh Prince of Bel-AirWorkmanEpisode: "There's the Rub: Part 2", credited as D. Christopher Judge
1997–2007Stargate SG-1Teal'cMain role (211 episodes)
2000Adventures from the Book of VirtuesPlatoVoice; main role season 3 (13 episodes)
2001First WaveXevallahEpisode: "Beneath the Black Sky"
FreedomDoctor RoegEpisode: "Mind Game"
2000–2001Action ManCoach Simon GreyVoice; recurring role (14 episodes)
2002Just CauseReverend Lester StokesEpisode: "The Wives of Christmas Past"
2002–2003AndromedaHector-Resolution of Hector/Achilles Avatar3 episodes
2000–2003MagnetoVoice; recurring role (20 episodes)
2003–2004He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseZodak, ZeelahrVoice; 4 episodes, credited as Chris Judge
2007–2008Teal'c2 episodes
2010Assan RefiqEpisode: "Anonymous"
2012data-sort-value="Mentalist, The" The MentalistDante HolmesEpisode: "Pink Champagne on Ice"
2015Chainsaw Sally: The Animated SeriesThe BaronVoice
2017Wacky RacesBrick CrashmanVoice; main role
2019–2021Final SpaceOreskisVoice, 2 episodes
2022data-sort-value="Guardians of Justice, The" The Guardians of JusticePresident Nicholas E. Nukem

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2003Def Jam VendettaD-Mob
2004Def Jam Fight for NYCredited as Chris Judge
World of WarcraftAdditional voices
2008TurokJerichoCredited as Chris Judge
2013Teal'cVoice and likeness
2014Additional voices
2015
2018God of WarVoice and motion capture
Akunda / Gorak Tul / Sunwalker Ordel
2021Marvel's AvengersT'Challa / Black PantherWar for Wakanda DLC expansion
2022God of War RagnarökKratosVoice and motion capture
2023Voice and motion capture; DLC expansion

Writing

Year Title Episode Notes
2002Stargate SG-1The WarriorSeason 5, episode 18. Aired in January.
2003The ChangelingSeason 6, episode 19. Aired in February.
BirthrightSeason 7, episode 10. Aired in August.
2004SacrificesSeason 8, episode 09. Aired in September.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv2.html Ultimate TV Transcript (archived)
  2. http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjstarlog.html Child of the Gods (archived)
  3. http://fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv.html TV Guide Q&A with Christopher Judge (archived)
  4. http://www.goducks.com/pdf7/40282.pdf Oregon Ducks Football History
  5. Web site: Christopher Judge - StargateWiki. www.stargate-sg1-solutions.com.
  6. Web site: Christopher Judge interview - Teal'C Stargate SG-1. www.thescifiworld.net.
  7. Web site: Christopher Judge Chat. 2009-05-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20100612000102/http://www.series-tv.net/sujet374-chat-christopher-judge.html. 2010-06-12. dead.
  8. Web site: TV Crush Blog.
  9. Web site: Michael Shanks - Conventions. www.michaelshanks-online.com.
  10. Web site: New God of War Does Not Feature Original Kratos Voice Actor. June 15, 2016. Paget. Mat. CBS Interactive. GameSpot. June 15, 2016.
  11. Web site: Kratos actor says God of War Ragnarok was delayed due to his health . Gilliam . Ryan . . September 30, 2021 . January 25, 2022.
  12. Web site: Christopher Judge . Starland . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201153952/http://www.starland.com/sf-sc/sc99/Christopher_Judge.html . 2008-12-01 . October 10, 2010 . www.starland.com.
  13. Web site: 2017 CFL Canadian Amateur Draft . CFLdb Statistics - The Canadian Football Statistics Database . September 11, 2020.
  14. Web site: 2019 CFL Canadian Amateur Draft . CFLdb Statistics - The Canadian Football Statistics Database . September 11, 2020.
  15. Web site: Gilliam . Ryan . 2021-09-30 . Kratos actor says God of War Ragnarok was delayed due to his health . 2022-11-08 . Polygon . en-US.
  16. Web site: Stargate takes four Saturn Award nominations . . March 15, 2002 . 2009-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021131230/http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0203_generalnews.shtml . October 21, 2012 . dead .
  17. Web site: Awards Category Details. www.interactive.org. 2019-02-17.
  18. Web site: 22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Award Winners Revealed. www.interactive.org. 2019-02-17.
  19. Web site: D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details God of War Ragnarok . . interactive.org . 8 December 2023.
  20. Web site: BAFTA Games Awards nominations 2019 . 14 March 2019 . 14 March 2019 . .
  21. Web site: 2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations. BAFTA. 2 March 2023. 2 March 2023.
  22. Web site: Christopher Judge - 17 Character Images. Behind The Voice Actors.