Discover the Surprising Voice Actors Who Made Cameos in HBO’s The Last of Us!

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Transforming source content into live-action adaptations has often been a rocky journey, and it’s not uncommon for these adaptations to fall short of audience expectations, particularly when the original material has already been depicted in animation or gaming. However, HBO’s versions have bucked this trend, with their actors earning just as much love from fans as the cast of Naughty Dog’s classic series.

In The Last of Us series, several voice actors have grown so connected to their characters and the show’s universe that they’ve made appearances throughout it. Notably, some of them reprised their roles more than once. This demonstrates not only the unique charm of The Last of Us but also how dedicated the creators were in adapting the game accurately.

From Protecting Ellie To Wanting Her Dead

One challenge HBO’s “The Last of Us” faced was making Joel and Ellie as strong as Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s portrayals, who are beloved in the series. However, it’s clear that Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey have delivered outstanding performances and made their own lasting impact on the franchise.

Among the most prominent voice actors in video games, Baker is recognized for his roles in titles such as “Persona 4” and “Bioshock: Infinite.” His gritty and jaded portrayal of Joel Miller from the game stands out as one of his most memorable performances. Initially reluctant to reprise his role or play David in the HBO series, Baker instead took on the part of James, David’s trusted deputy, who meets a tragic end at Ellie’s hands with a meat cleaver. It’s a smaller but enjoyable appearance for dedicated fans of the game.

Giving Life To a Character in Multiple Ways

Prior to Ashley Johnson’s portrayal of Ellie, she had already established herself as a skilled voice actress with notable roles. To some, her voice might be familiar from her character Gretchen Grundler in the show “Recess,” Peter Shepherd in the animated “Jumanji” series, or Gwen Tennyson in “Ben 10.” In live-action productions, Johnson played a significant role as Patterson in “Blindspot.

Ashley Johnson appeared again in a touching performance, singing the song “Through the Valley” by Shawn James non-diegetically in the episode named after it, “Through the Valley.” This musical appearance added depth and poignancy to the episode’s events.

Tommy’s Voice Actor Did Not Fare as Well Against a Bloater as Tommy’s Live-Action Counterpart

The concept of family is central to the “The Last of Us” series. Although family can encompass more than just blood relations, Joel does have a sibling in Tommy Miller. In the game, Jeffrey Pierce provides the voice for Tommy. Pierce has only taken on a limited number of video game voice roles, primarily in military games like “Call of Duty” and “Medal of Honor.” Apart from his work in video games, Pierce has been featured in many television shows such as “The West Wing,” “CSI,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” and “Justified.

In the HBO series, The Last of Us, Pierce plays an unique character named Perry. Perry belongs to Kathleen’s resistance group in Kansas City, modeled after the Pittsburgh faction from the game. Kathleen’s right-hand man is Perry, who meets a grisly end at the jaws of a Bloater, much like how deaths are portrayed in the game. Interestingly enough, Tommy (Gabriel Luna), as he appears in the show, eliminates the sole Bloater during Season 2.

There’s Only One Queen of the Fireflies

In the game, Merle Dandridge’s character resembled Marlene, serving as the catalyst for Joel and Ellie’s lengthy journey. During the first season, Dandridge was the sole voice actor to resume their named character role completely. Filming the emotional scene with Anna in the finale of the first season proved challenging for Dandridge because the heart-wrenching scene was exclusive to the HBO show, and Anna and Marlene were childhood friends. Interestingly, Ashley Johnson, who portrayed Ellie in the games, played Anna in this series.

Consequently, the relationship between Johnson and Dandridge on the HBO show evolved uniquely. The presence of Marlene following Ellie’s birth enhances the emotional complexity behind her readiness to sacrifice Ellie for a cure. Besides being Marlene, Dandridge is also recognized for her portrayal of Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2. She has also appeared in television series like Sons of Anarchy, Greenleaf, and The Flight Attendant.

They Recreated the Clicker’s Haunting Sounds and Movements as Only They Could

Appearances by voice actors can often act as hidden treats for fans who know the original content. This was particularly evident with the notorious Clickers from the game “The Last of Us“. Clickers are among the most frightening stages of Infected in “The Last of Us“. They’re recognized for their exceptional hearing because they are blind, so characters must be careful and quiet when they approach.

In the second episode of the HBO series titled “Infected”, both Misty Lee and Phillip Kovats resumed their voice roles as the Clickers, while Olivier-Ross Parent and Samuel Hoeksema portrayed the physical characters. The shrill sounds made by these actors are reminiscent for gamers, and it would have been a missed opportunity not to feature them in the HBO show.

Abby Was in That Surgery Room, After All

In the season finale, Laura Bailey didn’t reprise her role from the initial game but made a brief guest appearance instead. In the HBO series, she portrayed one of the nurses who prepared Ellie for surgery, a role different from her character Abby in The Last of Us: Part II. This wasn’t just a fleeting cameo; Bailey’s character in the operating room was significant as her storyline was connected to that scene. Joel’s decision to spare this unnamed nurse had consequences, as the surviving nurses (who didn’t appear in Season 2) shared stories about how Joel heartlessly shot the surgeon, Abby’s father, thus spreading rumors about his actions.

Similar to Baker, Bailey boasts a rich history with video games. She collaborated with Baker and Johnson on the game Tales from the Borderlands, and her roles include Serah Farron in the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, Chun-Li across several Street Fighter installments, and Mary Jane Watson within Marvel’s Spider-Man.

The Show Has Already Begun To Explore His Character More Deeply

Isaac Dixon stands out among the cast, and the series acknowledges this. Not only does Jeffrey Wright reprise his role as Isaac, but the show delves more profoundly into his character, a depth previously absent in the game. The series explores his past and sheds light on why he values Abby so significantly compared to other WLF members.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised to see Jeffrey Wright’s character, Isaac, garner more screen time in the debut episode of The Last of Us than he had throughout the entire game. Given his impressive performance and the intrigue surrounding his character, it’s safe to anticipate that we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in Season 3 as well.

It’s worth mentioning that Jeffrey Wright might not be the only character reprisal in The Last of Us, but just like the return of Merle Dandridge as Marlene, it’s hard to envision anyone else stepping into these roles so perfectly.

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2025-05-29 05:52