Liam O’Brien Bio
Liam Christopher O’Brien (born May 28, 1976) is an American voice actor, writer, and director with a prolific body of work across anime dubs, video games, animation and actual-play streaming. O’Brien has voiced major characters such as Gaara in Naruto, Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy and numerous roles in high-profile video games while also contributing as a voice director and ADR writer. He is a longtime member of the Critical Role cast and a founding participant in the creation of Critical Role Productions.
Early Life and Background
Liam Christopher O’Brien was born in Weehawken, New Jersey, on May 28, 1976, and is of Irish ancestry. His mother, Lois Wiltse O’Brien, worked as an educator and a quality assurance trainer and consultant. O’Brien was raised in a family that observed Reformed Christian practices and he attended Christian schools for much of his youth before later describing himself as agnostic.
O’Brien began acting in high school at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey, and resolved early on to pursue performance despite the uncertain prospects of a full-time career in the arts. He moved to New York City to study at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he received formal training that prepared him for stage work and for later transition into voice acting and media production.
Path to Celebrity
O’Brien’s early career included nationwide theatre work and a formative production of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met fellow voice actor Crispin Freeman. That connection helped O’Brien secure voice-over work when he returned to New York, and he began to shift focus from theatre toward voice acting as a more sustainable way to support a family. The move also enabled him to develop a wide range of character voices and to work regularly in dubbing and video games.
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, O’Brien and his partner decided to leave New York City and concentrate on voice work that allowed greater stability and family time. He built a reputation for portraying intense, morally complex or unhinged characters while also delivering comedic performances, and he augmented his skill set by working as a voice director and ADR writer for animated and interactive projects.
Liam O’Brien Career
Early Career (2001–2006)
O’Brien’s professional on-screen and voice career dates to the early 2000s, with Naruto among his earliest notable anime credits in 2002 where he voiced the character Gaara. During this period he also secured prominent roles such as Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy and continued to work in stage productions that informed his vocal range and acting choices. These early credits established him in the English-language anime community and opened opportunities in video games and animation voice work.
Alongside acting, O’Brien began building experience behind the microphone as an ADR writer and voice director, gaining practical knowledge in adaptation and performance direction. By developing skills in dialogue replacement and direction he expanded his professional footprint beyond performance into production roles that would become a significant part of his career.
Breakthrough (2007–present)
Over the following decade O’Brien consolidated a broad and varied portfolio across anime, animation and video games. In anime he voiced characters including Captain Jushiro Ukitake in Bleach, Lloyd in Code Geass, Kenzo Tenma in Monster and Akihiko Sanada in Persona 3, all roles that reinforced his presence in major English-language dubs. His versatility allowed him to move between dramatic leads and supporting roles in widely recognized franchises.
In video games O’Brien has provided key character voices for large titles, including Gollum in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Caius Ballad in Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, War in Darksiders, Illidan Stormrage in World of Warcraft and Heroes of the Storm, and Yasuo in League of Legends. These performances broadened his audience beyond anime and positioned him as a regularly sought voice talent for major studios and developers.
O’Brien expanded his career into production and direction, serving as a voice director and automated dialog replacement writer across hundreds of episodes and multiple games. He has voice-directed anime such as Naruto and has provided direction for video games including Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, The Last of Us and Evolve. This work established him as a reliable creative behind the scenes as well as in front of the microphone.
Notable Works and Milestones
Signature roles for O’Brien include Gaara in Naruto, Vincent Law in Ergo Proxy and multiple lead roles within video games that became commercial and critical properties. His participation in the Critical Role ensemble and his work as a voice director on long-running franchises are milestones that reflect both his range as a performer and his contributions to English-language production pipelines for anime and games.
Liam O’Brien Award Nominations
Across his career O’Brien has been associated with projects that received industry recognition, notably the ensemble web series Critical Role. The series earned finalist status and audience recognition at major digital media awards, and O’Brien’s ongoing role as a cast member connects him to those nominations through the show’s public accolades.
Liam O’Brien Awards Won
Critical Role, the production company and series in which O’Brien is a principal cast member and founding contributor, was the recipient of the Webby Awards’ Games (Video Series & Channels) categories in 2019, winning both the Webby and the People’s Voice prize, and it also won the Audience Honor at the 2019 Shorty Awards. Those wins are part of O’Brien’s record of involvement with award-winning collaborative projects.
Liam O’Brien Family
O’Brien married voice actress Amy Kincaid in 2002 and the couple have two children, a daughter and a son. The family resides in Los Angeles, California. His mother is Lois Wiltse O’Brien and he has a sister named Cara, both of whom are noted in public biographical records.
Personal Life
Outside of professional work O’Brien has spoken publicly about living with hyperacusis, a hearing disorder that makes him unusually sensitive to everyday noises. He has described prioritizing family time and selecting work that allows him to balance production commitments with home life. O’Brien continues to live and work in Los Angeles while performing roles and production duties across anime, games and the Critical Role media ventures.