Reuben Langdon
Reuben Christopher Langdon (born July 19, 1975) is an American stunt performer, voice actor, motion capture artist, and filmmaker, best known for voicing and providing motion capture performance for the character Dante in Capcom's Devil May Cry video game series beginning with Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening.[1][2] Langdon began his career in Japan as a series regular on the tokusatsu television program B-Fighter Kabuto, later transitioning to Hollywood stunt work that included ensemble performances in major films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the stunt ensemble in 2007, and uncredited Na'vi motion capture contributions to Avatar.[1][3] His stunt portfolio extends to action sequences in Kingsman: The Secret Service and other high-profile productions, establishing him as a versatile performer in martial arts and physical effects.[4] In voice acting, Langdon has portrayed iconic characters including Ken Masters in the Street Fighter series up to Street Fighter V, as well as contributions to The Last of Us vocal ensemble that earned a Behind The Voice Actors Award in 2013; however, he was recast from Ken in Street Fighter 6, which he attributed to political differences amplified by media coverage of his personal views.[1][3][5] Beyond gaming, Langdon has pursued filmmaking and activism focused on extraterrestrial disclosure, producing the 2013 Citizen Hearing on UFO Disclosure event and creating the documentary series Interview with E.D., which explores channeled communications with alleged extra-dimensional entities, reflecting his interest in consciousness expansion and alternative scientific paradigms.[3][6] His public expressions of skepticism toward movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, alongside endorsements of conspiracy-oriented topics such as UFOs and government cover-ups, have drawn criticism from gaming communities and contributed to professional repercussions, including fan backlash and role losses amid broader industry sensitivities to non-conformist opinions.[5][7]Early Life
Childhood and Family Background
Reuben Christopher Langdon was born on July 19, 1975, in Anchorage, Alaska.[1] He spent much of his childhood in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, after his family relocated there.[8] During his early years in Georgia, Langdon developed a strong interest in Japanese animation, particularly after encountering the imported cartoon Robotech in 1985, which aired briefly and ignited his fascination with anime storytelling and martial arts elements depicted in such media.[8] This exposure occurred amid a conventional suburban upbringing, though specific details about his parents or siblings remain undocumented in primary biographical accounts.[1]Initial Career Aspirations
Born in Alaska on July 19, 1975, and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, Reuben Langdon developed an early fascination with Japanese animation after encountering the imported cartoon series Robotech in 1985, when he was approximately 10 years old.[8] This exposure ignited his interest in anime's storytelling elements, particularly themes of relationships and epic narratives, prompting him to explore related works like Macross at a Star Trek convention, where he recognized Japan as embodying "everything I loved."[8] Langdon's aspirations centered on entering the action-oriented entertainment industry, specifically emulating the high-energy stunts of performers like Jackie Chan, whom he sought to replicate through physical feats such as "flipping off a wall."[8] In high school, he enrolled in Japanese language classes to facilitate immersion in that culture, while working at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to practice conversational skills.[8] These efforts reflected his goal of breaking into Japanese media for stunt and acting roles, culminating in his relocation to Tokyo shortly after graduation to pursue modeling and action opportunities.[8]Professional Career
Entry into Stunt Work
Langdon initiated his professional involvement in action performance through his debut role in the Japanese tokusatsu series B-Fighter Kabuto in 1996, portraying Mac Windy (B-Fighter Yanma), a character requiring physical feats in combat sequences inherent to the Metal Hero format.[9] This opportunity arose shortly after his relocation to Japan, marking his initial exposure to demanding on-set action work as one of the few Western actors in such productions.[10] Returning to the United States around 1998, Langdon formally entered the stunt industry via the Power Rangers series, contributing uncredited stunts to Power Rangers Lost Galaxy in 1999.[11] He advanced in 2000 by doubling for lead characters, including Carter Grayson (Red Lightspeed Ranger) and Ryan Mitchell (Titanium Ranger) in Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, executing wire work, fights, and pyrotechnic sequences that defined the show's high-risk choreography.[12][13] These assignments, coordinated through established stunt teams, capitalized on Langdon's martial arts background and built his portfolio for subsequent Hollywood projects, emphasizing practical effects over emerging CGI reliance in early 2000s action media.[14] His Power Rangers tenure, spanning multiple episodes across seasons, provided consistent employment and networking, with over a dozen credited stunt performances logged by 2001.[1]Transition to Voice Acting and Motion Capture
Langdon's entry into motion capture stemmed from his established stunt background, where his physical agility and martial arts proficiency aligned with the emerging demands of digital performance capture in video games. In 1997, he was selected to provide motion capture for Chris Redfield in the Dreamcast port of Resident Evil: Code Veronica, marking his initial foray into the field and predating his voice work.[15][16] Building on this, Langdon co-founded Just Cause Productions in 2001, a motion capture studio that facilitated expanded opportunities in video game development by integrating stunt coordination with performance capture techniques. This venture positioned him as a key contributor to early motion capture pipelines, leveraging his real-world stunt experience—such as flips, tumbles, and high falls—to inform virtual character animations.[8] A pivotal advancement occurred with Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005), where Langdon supplied both motion capture and voice performance for the protagonist Dante, combining his physical stunt capabilities with vocal delivery to define the character's cocky, acrobatic persona. This role elevated his profile in the industry, transitioning him from primarily stunt-driven mo-cap to integrated voice acting, as prior work like Resident Evil: Code Veronica focused solely on movement without dialogue. Subsequent projects, including Devil May Cry 4 (2008), solidified this dual expertise.[16][8]Directing and Production Ventures
In 2001, Langdon co-founded Just Cause Productions with Takuya Shibata, establishing a Los Angeles-based company specializing in motion capture, 3D animation, production, and post-production services primarily for the video game industry.[17][18] The firm contributed to motion capture work on titles such as Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (2005), Resident Evil 5 (2009), and other projects requiring high-fidelity performance capture for action sequences.[19] Langdon served as producer and action director, leveraging his stunt and performance expertise to oversee realistic animations that enhanced gameplay authenticity in fighting and survival genres.[20] Expanding beyond gaming, Langdon ventured into documentary production centered on extraterrestrial and paranormal themes. In 2013, he co-produced the Citizen Hearing on UFO Disclosure, a five-day public event held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., featuring testimony from over 40 witnesses, including former military and government officials, presented before six ex-members of Congress to advocate for governmental transparency on unidentified aerial phenomena.[1] The proceedings were documented and later distributed as footage simulating congressional hearings, aiming to compile empirical accounts of UFO encounters.[21] Langdon also spearheaded Interview with E.D. (Extra Dimensionals), a 2015 docu-series in which he conducted interviews with individuals claiming to channel alien or extra-dimensional entities, exploring purported insights into human identity, purpose, and extraterrestrial interactions.[22] Aired on platforms like Gaia, the series positioned Langdon as the primary filmmaker and host, emphasizing firsthand narratives over institutional analyses, though it drew from anecdotal evidence rather than peer-reviewed data.[3] These projects reflect Langdon's shift toward independent production in niche, disclosure-oriented content, distinct from mainstream Hollywood or gaming pipelines.Notable Roles and Contributions
Video Game Performances
Reuben Langdon established himself in the video game industry through motion capture and voice performances, particularly with Capcom titles, beginning in the mid-2000s. His breakthrough came in 2005 with Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, where he supplied both the voice and full motion capture for the protagonist Dante, a stylish demon hunter central to the game's action-hack-and-slash gameplay.[15][4] This role involved capturing Dante's acrobatic combat animations and delivering the character's cocky, irreverent dialogue, which helped define the series' tone and contributed to the game's commercial success, selling over 2 million units worldwide by 2007.[15] Langdon reprised Dante in Devil May Cry 4 (2008), again handling voice and motion capture, and returned for Devil May Cry 5 (2019), where his performance emphasized the character's evolved maturity amid high-stakes battles against demonic forces.[23] He also voiced Dante in crossover titles, including Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) as an Echo Fighter echo of Ken Masters.[23] These appearances extended Dante's reach into multiplayer fighting genres, leveraging Langdon's capture of fluid swordplay and gun-fu mechanics.[23] In the Street Fighter series, Langdon voiced Ken Masters starting with Street Fighter IV (2008), portraying the fiery American martial artist with a brash, competitive edge across arcade and story modes.[23] He continued in Super Street Fighter IV (2010), Street Fighter X Tekken (2012), and Street Fighter V (2016), providing English dub lines that highlighted Ken's rivalry dynamics and family themes, with his tenure spanning over 15 years until replacement in Street Fighter 6 (2023).[23][1] Langdon contributed to the Resident Evil franchise primarily through motion capture for Chris Redfield, the muscular S.T.A.R.S. operative, in Resident Evil 5 (2009) and Resident Evil 6 (2012), capturing intense survival-horror action sequences involving bioweapon combat.[15] He also handled Chris's mocap in earlier entries like Resident Evil: Code Veronica (2000 remake elements) and the CG film Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017).[1] Additionally, he voiced minor character Dave Johnson in Resident Evil 5.[1]| Year | Title | Role | Performance Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening | Dante | Voice & Motion Capture[23] |
| 2008 | Devil May Cry 4 | Dante | Voice & Motion Capture[23] |
| 2008 | Street Fighter IV | Ken Masters | Voice[23] |
| 2009 | Resident Evil 5 | Chris Redfield (mocap); Dave Johnson (voice) | Motion Capture & Voice[15] |
| 2012 | Resident Evil 6 | Chris Redfield | Motion Capture[15] |
| 2016 | Street Fighter V | Ken Masters | Voice[23] |
| 2019 | Devil May Cry 5 | Dante | Voice & Motion Capture[23] |