Scream: Why The Voice Of Ghostface Sounds So Familiar
A distinct voice can take people places, invoke fear, and inspire calls to action. The "Scream" franchise has long focused on killers who have donned the mask and moniker of Ghostface, and although Ghostface is typically a different person or people in each movie, the individual wearing the mask and black cloak always sounds the same. This is explained by a voice modulator, but in real life, Ghostface's voice is provided by none other than Roger Jackson.
That means any time one has been watching any "Scream" movie and the phone rings, it is Jackson who audiences are hearing when the question is asked, "what is your favorite scary movie?" Credited as "The Voice" in every "Scream" movie, Jackson had a unique way of approaching the role. In an interview with Vice, Jackson was asked if it is strange to be the voice of a serial killer. "Strange? No. It was a wonderful experience, and so much fun!" he gushed. "I knew it had to be a sexy voice and something interesting enough to keep the girl on the phone, even though she clearly wants to hang up. He sounds interesting. There's this texture and erotic colour to his voice ... I wanted the voice to change colour as Ghostface goes in for the kill, sort of like a cat does." However, Jackson has a long and extensive career in voice work, starting way back in 1990, which probably explains why he sounds so familiar.
Jackson got his voice acting start in The Secret of Monkey Island
For those out there that have been gaming for many decades, the first place that Roger Jackson might be recognized from is the vaunted 1990 video game from Lucasfilm Games, "The Secret of Monkey Island." This point-and-click adventure follows the would-be pirate Guybrush Threepwood (Dominic Armato) as he proves his worth and earns a reputation over the course of dealing with all sorts of adversaries like cannibals and ghosts. Jackson plays several characters in "The Secret of Monkey Island," with the first being Fred, a former pirate and a member of a group known as "The Men of Low Moral Fiber." This group is a major comedic element of the game, with Fred being a rather rotund pirate with a penchant for hearty laughter that often provokes his fellow comrades.
Besides Fred, Jackson also plays the piano-playing monkey called Jojo at the pirate restaurant named the Bloody Lip Bar and Grill on Scabb Island. Jojo is instrumental in Guybrush's quest because whenever Jojo sees a banana he becomes catatonic, which transforms the piano-loving simian into a literal monkey wrench. In addition, Jackson lends his talents as a passage-guarding troll, but this monster is later revealed to just be a person in a costume.
Jackson must have made quite the impression because he continued to pop up in the sequels to "The Secret of Monkey Island," such as 1991's "Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge" and 2009's "Tales of Monkey Island."
He again channels a monkey as the arch-nemesis of the Powerpuff Girls
Playing a monkey in "The Secret of Monkey Island" must have had an impact on Roger Jackson, because the next place people might recognize his voice from is the 1998 animated series "The Powerpuff Girls" as the villain Mojo Jojo. Unlike the piano-playing Jojo from "The Curse of Monkey Island," Mojo Jojo instead is a diabolical enemy to the heroic Powerpuff Girls, and he craves not only their destruction but also the absolute domination of the entire world. Wearing a flowing cloak and donning some rather unique headgear, Mojo Jojo has a distinct manner of speaking that often results in him referring to himself in the third person. And let's be honest, saying "Mojo Jojo" is a lot of fun!
Joking aside, Jackson has kept his Mojo Jojo role through the many "Powerpuff Girls" television shows, specials, video games, and movies like "The Powerpuff Girls Movie," "The Powerpuff Girls: Mojo Jojo's Clone Zone," and "The Powerpuff Girls Rule!!!" However, Mojo Jojo isn't the only character that Jackson plays in the popular cartoon; he also voices the bug-inside-a-robot Roach Coach, Butch of the Rowdyruff Boys, and the disguised Mojo Jojo character known as BrainLord. Jackson is also credited for additional voices, so it seems as if he is definitely quite familiar with all things "Powerpuff Girls."
Jackson voiced two different characters in two different Final Fantasy games
Changing pace from playing musical or maniacal monkeys, Roger Jackson then appeared in two different "Final Fantasy" games. The first, 2003's "Final Fantasy X-2," sees Roger playing the role of Maester Wen Kinoc, as well as additional characters. Wen Kinoc is a religious adherent of high ranking in the Yevon religion, which is the predominant faith in the world of Spira. Based on and around the art of summoning, Wen Kinoc believes the Yevon religion should be followed by all, and goes so far as to use military actions to make sure that his faith spreads. In addition, Wen Kinoc is also a close personal friend of Seymour Guado (Alex Fernandez), one of the major villains of "Final Fantasy X."
Shifting gears slightly from preaching a religion, Jackson later appears as Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor in 2006's "Final Fantasy XII." Although "Final Fantasy X" and "Final Fantasy X-2" focus on religion and summoning, "Final Fantasy XII" is more or less about political scheming, succession of power, and fighting for freedom. Emperor Gramis is responsible for conquering much of the world in "Final Fantasy XII," which he later becomes reluctant about on account of his brutal military methods. His sons are diametrically opposed to each other, with one of them scheming against the Emperor for control of the kingdom. Emperor Gramis is an elderly ruler, and his paranoia over his diminishing status is one of the major components of the character, as well as his concerns about the future of his family.
He lent his talents to one of the original League of Legends characters
One of the next places that people might recognize Roger Jackson's voice from is one of the biggest and most popular video games in the world, "League of Legends," which was originally released in 2009 and still going strong to this day. "League of Legends" is a multiplayer online battle arena game, or MOBA, that sees teams of players attempt to destroy a series of towers and main bases in order to win. Taking place on the map known as Summoner's Rift, there is a truly staggering amount of characters to choose from, with varying roles and abilities. Jackson voices one of the original characters of the game called Singed, who definitely channels the vibes of an unscrupulous and dangerous scientist.
Singed's skills allow him to be a tank for his allies, which is a role dedicated to leading the charge and soaking up damage from enemies. Masked and carrying a shield and vials of unknown substances, Singed is actually featured on the animated show "Arcane," though Jackson does not voice this particular iteration of the character. Though Jackson isn't on "Arcane," audiences that aren't familiar with "League of Legends" get a good grasp of the character -– a reclusive individual that believes science has the cure for all things, and he most assuredly has no ethics to constrain his actions, which can be shocking and horrible to some upon seeing Singed's experiments and results.
He voiced yet another unethical scientist in the Dishonored franchise
Apparently, Roger Jackson has a talent for playing eccentric scientists, as he voiced Anton Sokolov in the 2012 video game "Dishonored" and its subsequent sequel in 2016. Set in an alternate reality with a distinct steampunk feel, "Dishonored" sees an anachronistic Victorian-style city suffer from not only a political coup but also a devastating plague caused by a growing rat infestation. Sokolov is important to this world because he is a polymath of immense skills consisting of art, math, science, and philosophy. Much of the incredible technology featured in the "Dishonored" games is designed and created by Sokolov, which provides the character a modicum of freedom to do as he pleases. Although a brilliant scientist, Sokolov is somewhat like Singed from "League of Legends" because Sokolov has no issues with human experimentation on innocence. No ethical hangups here!
Channeling the look of figures like Rasputin, Sokolov has a wild and unkempt visage that only further underscores his chaotically brilliant nature. Depending on whether or not players earn the "good ending" of "Dishonored," Sokolov may actually figure out a cure for the plague that has ravaged the city, but this ending only occurs when there is very little chaos and death present in the game. In other words, the harder ending to achieve. In "Dishonored 2," Sokolov once again plays a key component of the story, and this time, the character is forced to create clockwork soldiers for the antagonist of the game. However, he is later rescued and provides support for the player.
Jackson is sick of synthetic humanoids in Fallout 4
Following up with another scientist role, Roger Jackson voiced Lawrence Higgs in the hit 2015 video game "Fallout 4." Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland hundreds of years after a global nuclear war, the "Fallout" franchise features many different groups of survivors. One of the most notable of these groups is known as "The Institute" in "Fallout 4," and they consist of some of the smartest individuals left on the planet. The scientists that staff The Institute are the children of previous generations of scientists, and the organization is exceptionally reclusive, with its base located deep underneath the former ruins of a college.
The Institute is generally hostile to anybody not associated with the organization as many of the members consider themselves vastly superior to other survivors. Higgs is a scientist who focuses on biology, and he is incredibly angry with The Institute's pursuit and usage of "synths," which are essentially robots that can blend in with humanity. Higgs views these synthetic humans are a symbol of The Institute and humanity's decline in general, which he has no qualms about expressing to anybody that might listen to him. One of the last missions involving Higgs in "Fallout 4" sees Higgs upset with the player character after they are gifted the leadership of The Institute, which forces the player into a confrontation with Higgs. From playing monkeys, scientists, and serial killers, Jackson has an exceptionally varied career that spans decades, and if one considers themselves a fan of cartoons or video games, then one has most assuredly heard Jackson in some capacity.