Gray Haddock
Gray G. Haddock (born August 11, 1972) is an American voice actor, animator, director, and producer recognized for his contributions to animated web series and his leadership in animation production.[1] He served as head of animation at Rooster Teeth Productions, an Austin-based studio, where he directed aspects of RWBY, contributed to Red vs. Blue, and created the science fiction series gen:LOCK featuring voice talent including Michael B. Jordan.[2][3] Haddock's voice work includes the villainous Roman Torchwick in RWBY and the mercenary Locus in Red vs. Blue, roles that highlighted his distinctive performance style in ensemble casts.[4] In June 2019, he transitioned from his executive position at Rooster Teeth to a creative focus in response to internal employee concerns, before fully departing the company later that year amid organizational changes.[5][2]Early life and education
Upbringing and initial interests
Gray Haddock was born on August 11, 1972, in Austin, Texas.[6] From a young age, Haddock developed a passion for science fiction media, including Gene Roddenberry's original Star Trek series and the Star Wars franchise, which shaped his creative influences.[7][8] He also encountered anime early in life, citing the first two anime series he watched as formative experiences that sparked his interest in the genre.[9] These interests in speculative fiction and Japanese animation laid the groundwork for his eventual pursuits in voice acting and production, though specific details on his family background or precise childhood circumstances remain undocumented in available sources.Academic background
Gray Haddock earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting from the University of Texas at Austin.[10] His studies there focused on performance, aligning with his early interests in voice acting, which he began pursuing professionally around the mid-1990s.[11] Limited public details exist regarding his specific coursework or academic achievements, as Haddock has primarily discussed his education in biographical contexts tied to his entertainment career rather than in dedicated academic profiles.Professional career
Early entry into voice acting and production
Haddock's entry into voice acting occurred in 1995, with his debut role as Yosuke Fuuma (also known as Viento) in the English dub of the anime series Wedding Peach.[12] This marked the beginning of a focus on dubbing Japanese anime, where he provided voices for supporting characters in early projects such as additional voices in Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.[12] By the late 1990s, his credits expanded to include roles like Sanosuke Sagara in Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc and Jubei Yagyu in Ninja Resurrection.[13] Concurrently, Haddock entered production aspects of the industry through automated dialogue replacement (ADR) work for English dubs. He contributed as an ADR scriptwriter for titles including The Adventures of Kotetsu OAV and served as ADR director and scriptwriter for City Hunter: .357 Magnum, alongside subtitle scripting.[13] These roles involved adapting dialogue for synchronization with original footage, demonstrating early technical and creative involvement in localization processes typical of Austin's growing anime dubbing scene post-college.[13] Before formal affiliation with larger studios like Rooster Teeth, Haddock's production experience extended to visual effects contributions on independent films, such as uncredited visual effects artistry for No Way Out (2011) and effects work on My Sucky Teen Romance (2011).[14] These efforts, often freelance, bridged his voice work with post-production technical skills honed after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996, laying groundwork for subsequent animation compositing roles.[14]Tenure at Rooster Teeth
Gray Haddock joined Rooster Teeth in August 2011 as a visual effects artist and digital compositor, initially contributing to season 9 of Red vs. Blue.[15] Over the following years, he advanced within the company's animation division, taking on voice acting roles such as Roman Torchwick in RWBY starting from volume 1 in 2013 and Locus in Red vs. Blue season 13 in 2015.[16] By 2014, with the establishment of Rooster Teeth Animation, Haddock assumed the position of head of animation, overseeing production on multiple series including RWBY, Camp Camp, and gen:LOCK. In this leadership capacity, he served as writer, director, and producer for gen:LOCK, a mecha anime series that premiered on January 26, 2019, featuring voice talent such as Michael B. Jordan.[17] During his tenure, Haddock's responsibilities expanded to include creative direction across Rooster Teeth's animated slate, contributing to the studio's growth in original content amid increasing production demands.[18] He maintained dual roles in production and performance, voicing characters in projects like the White Fang Lieutenant in RWBY while managing animation workflows.[16] Haddock departed Rooster Teeth in mid-2019, announcing his separation on September 13, 2019, and expressing openness to future collaborations.[19] The company subsequently appointed Joe Clary and Sean Hinz as co-heads of animation in December 2019 to succeed him.[2] His exit occurred amid broader layoffs at the studio, though he clarified it was not involuntary.[20]Leadership roles and key projects
Gray Haddock held the position of Head of Animation at Rooster Teeth Productions, a role in which he oversaw the studio's animation division and its output of original series.[2][21] In this capacity, he directed the development of several high-profile animated projects, emphasizing 3D animation techniques and narrative-driven storytelling within the company's portfolio.[18] As co-director and producer for the web series RWBY, Haddock contributed to production starting with Volume 3, which premiered on June 10, 2015, helping to guide the show's expansion from 2D to hybrid animation styles.[3] He also served as a writer and producer on Camp Camp, an animated comedy series that debuted in 2016, where he helped shape its episodic structure and character development.[3][20] Haddock created, wrote, and directed gen:LOCK, a 3D animated mecha science fiction series produced by Rooster Teeth, which launched its first season on January 26, 2019, featuring voice talent including Michael B. Jordan and exploring themes of digital consciousness and global conflict.[22][18] The project marked a significant investment in original IP under his leadership, with the series receiving Emmy nominations for outstanding short form animated program in 2019.[22] In June 2019, Haddock transitioned from his administrative leadership role to focus exclusively on creative directing, prior to his full departure from Rooster Teeth later that year.[23] This shift followed the appointment of co-heads Joe Clary and Sean Hinz to replace him in December 2019.[2]Voice acting roles
Roles in anime and external projects
Haddock began his voice acting career in anime dubs during the 1990s, contributing to English localizations primarily through studios like ADV Films.[24] His roles often featured rugged or action-oriented characters, reflecting his versatile baritone delivery.[4] Key anime roles include:| Title | Character | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Peach | Yousuke Fuuma / Viento | 1995–1996 |
| Rurouni Kenshin (films) | Sanosuke Sagara | 1997, 2001, 2011–2012 |
| Tekken: The Motion Picture | Lei Wulong | 1998 |
| Lost Universe | Rando | 1998 |
| Pumpkin Scissors | S.LT. Oreldo | 2006 |