Ned Luke Explained

Ned Luke
Birth Date:4 October 1958
Birth Place:Danville, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1984–present
Children:1
Other Names:Ned von Leuck

Ned Luke (born October 4, 1958) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Michael De Santa in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V.[1] and Grand Theft Auto VI (2025). Luke also voiced Raffles in the animated movie Rover Dangerfield. He has appeared in 29 movies and television shows as well as over 100 commercials.

Early life

Ned Luke was born on October 4, 1958 in Danville, Illinois, to Cindy (née Smith) and Fred Luke.

Career

Luke's first major voice role was in Rover Dangerfield, where he played a sheepdog named Raffles opposite Rodney Dangerfield. He was cast as a guest star in several TV shows throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and has appeared in about 100 television commercials featuring products such as Budweiser and Burger King.

In 2007, having grown disenchanted with show business and desiring that his son experience where he grew up, Luke decided to take a break from acting and moved his family from Los Angeles to his hometown of Danville, where he opened a restaurant with his brother. After two years, he decided to return to acting and he and his family moved to Ossining, New York. His agent suggested he audition for the role of Michael De Santa, one of the three protagonists of Rockstar Games' 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V. Luke initially scoffed at the idea of being in a video game, but after reading the script he decided to proceed with the audition and, alongside Shawn Fonteno and Steven Ogg, was eventually cast.[2] Grand Theft Auto V went on to set several sales records and has become the 2nd highest grossing video game in history.[3]

He continued to work with Rockstar Games after the release of Grand Theft Auto V, providing uncredited voice work on the 2018 game Red Dead Redemption 2. Luke also guest starred on Boardwalk Empire.[4]

Personal life

Luke is married and has a son.[1]

On November 23, 2023, Luke was swatted during a Thanksgiving livestream of Grand Theft Auto Online on his YouTube channel. While some fans accused Rockstar Games of failing to protect players' IP addresses, Luke refuted these claims and attributed the incident to his personal information being previously leaked online.[5] [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984The BearFootball Player
1991Rover DangerfieldRaffles Voice only, supporting role
1996The Nutty ProfessorConstruction WorkerUncredited
1999Citation of MeritSergeant SmithShort film
2017American GothicBill

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Angel StreetOfficerEpisode: "The Blonde in the Pond"
1994Guiding LightSheriff2 episodes
1995NYPD BlueLawyerEpisode: "Cold Heaters"
1996Murder OneConspiracy GuyEpisode: "Chapter Eleven"
1996RenegadeAndy WarwickEpisode: "The Milk Carton Kid"
1997On the LineOfficer AlTelevision film
1997The Burning Zone2nd OfficerEpisode: "Critical Mass"
1997High IncidentGary ButterworthEpisode: "Remote Control"
1999General HospitalBody Guard2 episodes
1999City GuysLonnie CollinsEpisode: "Miracle on 134th Street and Lexington Avenue"
2000The PretenderDavid ArnoldEpisode: "Junk"
2000JAGSenior Chief Petty Officer BrackenEpisode: "Drop Zone"
2000The HuntressDetective EllardEpisode: "The Kid"
2000Diagnosis MurderTimmonsEpisode: "The Patient Detective"
2002
2003
2013
Mr. Wilmont
Roger Swanson
Mr. Thurber
Season 3

"Popular"
Season 4: "Mercy"
Season 15: "Surrender Benson"

2004Third WatchRon ConnellyEpisode: "Greatest Detectives in the World"
2005As the World TurnsDetective Langstorm2 episodes
2005Jonny ZeroOfficer MuncieEpisode: "To Serve and to Protect"
2002–2005All My ChildrenFire Chief / Private Investigator3 episodes
2005Law & OrderKen CosgroveEpisode: "New York Minute"
2009KatanaExecutiveEpisode: "Pilot"
2013Boardwalk EmpireBoorish ManEpisode: "All In"
2015UnfilteredRandolph WileyLead role, unreleased

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013Grand Theft Auto VMichael De SantaVoice and motion capture
2018Red Dead Redemption 2Various strangersVoice unreleased, motion capture

Notes and References

  1. News: John . Gaudiosi . Preview: 'GTA V' actor Ned Luke talks. Chicago Tribune. November 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141018063917/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-10-03/entertainment/sns-201310031300--tms--invideogctnzs-c20131003-20131003_1_video-game-rockstar-games-new-game. October 18, 2014.
  2. News: Molina . Brett. Interview: Crime pays for 'Grand Theft Auto V' actors. USA Today. November 13, 2014.
  3. Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling videogame of all time in the US. PC Gamer. Chalk. Andy. November 7, 2017.
  4. Furn . Daniel . GTA 5 voice actors: Full cast and where you know them from . Radio Times . October 7, 2023 . September 8, 2022.
  5. News: Tom . Phillips . November 24, 2023 . GTA 5 Michael actor Ned Luke swatted while playing on Thanksgiving stream . Eurogamer . November 24, 2023.
  6. Web site: Dinsdale . Ryan . November 24, 2023 . Actor Who Played Michael in GTA 5 Swatted While Streaming, Defends Rockstar Despite Fan Outcry . November 24, 2023 . IGN.