Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Zombies features some of the most memorable voice talent in gaming history. Released by Treyarch in 2012, the mode expanded far beyond a simple bonus feature into a sprawling narrative universe. Behind the blood, sweat, and undead groans stand professional actors who brought depth, dark comedy, and grit to the iconic maps.
Knowing who voiced your favorite survivors adds a layer of appreciation to every round 100 run. From gritty mobsters trapped on Alcatraz to a dysfunctional crew riding a radioactive bus, the cast list includes seasoned television stars, legendary film actors, and veteran voiceover artists.
The Tranzit and Green Run Crew
The crew introduced in "Tranzit" faced a fractured Earth alongside a sarcastic robot bus driver named T.E.D.D. This lineup featured distinct personalities that clashed constantly while trying to survive.
- Abigail "Misty" Briarton: Voiced by Stephanie Lemelin, Misty brought a tough-as-nails, country-girl persona to the apocalypse. Lemelin is well-known for her extensive animation and video game work, including roles in Young Justice and Sunset Overdrive.
- Marlton Johnson: Voiced by Scott Menville, Marlton played the fast-talking, hyper-intellectual survivalist who often hid in lockers. Menville brings decades of voice acting experience, most notably voicing Robin in Cartoon Network's Teen Titans.
- Russman: Voiced by Keith Szarabajka, Russman portrayed the older, memory-addled former broken arrow operative with a mysterious past. Szarabajka is a recognizable face and voice from films like The Dark Knight and games like Mass Effect.
- Samuel J. Stuhlinger: Voiced by David Boat, Stuhlinger heard the voice of Edward Richtofen in his head, creating hilarious internal conflicts. Boat has lent his vocal talents to numerous animated series and blockbuster titles.
The Mob of the Dead Cast
The "Mob of the Dead" DLC map shifted tone entirely, trading the sci-fi trenches for a grim 1930s Alcatraz penitentiary. Treyarch secured genuine Hollywood icons famous for mob movies to play the doomed prisoners.
- Billy Handsome: Voiced by the legendary Ray Liotta. Best known for his iconic starring role in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, Liotta brought authentic mobster gravitas to the undead slaughter.
- Albert "The Weasel" Arlington: Voiced by Joe Pantoliano. Pantoliano brought his signature nervous energy and theatrical flair, drawing from iconic roles in The Matrix and The Sopranos.
- Salvatore "Sal" DeLuca: Voiced by Chazz Palminteri. Palminteri channeled his classic Italian-American gangster persona, familiar to fans of A Bronx Tale and The Usual Suspects.
- Michael "Finn" O'Leary: Voiced by Michael Madsen. Madsen brought a cool, rugged edge rooted in his unforgettable performances in Quentin Tarantino films like Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill.
The Origins Crew and Cosmic Silverback
The climax of the Black Ops 2 season arrived with "Origins," introducing the alternate-timeline Primis crew that anchored the franchise for years to follow.
- Edward Richtofen: Voiced by Nolan North. North is a titan in the video game industry, also voicing the game's bus driver, characters in Uncharted, and various other roles across the franchise.
- "Tank" Dempsey: Voiced by Steve Blum. Blum holds a Guinness World Record for the most credited video game voiceover roles, bringing raw marine energy to Dempsey.
- Takeo Masaki: Voiced by Tom Kane, a master of classical voice acting who provided Takeo's disciplined, philosophical dialogue.
- Nikolai Belinski: Voiced by Fred Tatasciore, who also voiced Dr. Ludvig Maxis. Tatasciore's booming vocal range is a staple of modern gaming.
Behind the Booth: Recording Challenges
Voice acting for Call of Duty Zombies isn't your average recording session. Actors often spend hours in sound booths performing extreme physical exertions. Yelling, choking sounds, death rattles, and panicked combat lines require immense vocal control.
Directors frequently ask for multiple variations of a single line. For example, a simple callout like "Max Ammo" needs low-urgency, high-urgency, and comical deliveries depending on what the player is doing at that exact second. For Hollywood stars like Ray Liotta, transitioning to a video game booth meant adapting to motion-capture elements and non-linear script recording where lines make sense only after post-production editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did real celebrities provide likenesses for the Mob of the Dead characters?
Yes. Treyarch scanned the faces of Ray Liotta, Michael Madsen, Chazz Palminteri, and Joe Pantoliano directly into the game engine to match their voice performances with realistic character models.
Who voiced the automated bus driver T.E.D.D.?
Nolan North voiced T.E.D.D., blending a polite customer service tone with passive-aggressive insults whenever players attacked the bus.
Why did Treyarch transition from comedic voice lines to serious lore?
Early maps focused heavily on B-movie horror tropes and dark humor. As the storyline expanded across multiple game releases, the developers hired specialized writers to build an intricate multi-dimensional sci-fi plot requiring deeper dramatic performances.
Are the original actors still involved in modern Call of Duty titles?
Many of the core voice actors returned for subsequent franchise entries like Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4, though some characters underwent casting updates or narrative reboots as the storyline evolved.
