Richard James May (September 21, 1940 – April 8, 2020) was a Canadian-American voice actor, theater performer, director, and educator renowned for his dynamic vocal performances in video games and his extensive contributions to regional theater.[1][2]May began his career in theater, serving as the artistic director of the Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera in Washington state, where he directed and starred in over 300 productions, including notable roles such as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.[3] He also taught voice-over acting classes at Rekindle School in Seattle from 2010 until 2020, mentoring aspiring performers in the craft.[4]In voice acting, May gained widespread recognition for his work in video games, most famously voicing the bombastic Soldier character in Team Fortress 2 (2007), whose lines like "If God had wanted you to live, he would not have created me!" became iconic among gamers.[5][6] He also provided voices for multiple characters in the Star Fox series, including the wise-cracking Peppy Hare—known for the memorable phrase "Do a barrel roll!"—and the villainous Andross in Star Fox 64 (1997).[7][2] Other credits include Dr. M in Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005), the narrator and Genghis Khan in Age of Empires II (1999), and roles in children's games like Freddi Fish 5: The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove (1999).[1][3]May suffered a stroke in February 2020 and was recovering in a nursing home when he contracted COVID-19, leading to his death on April 8, 2020, at age 79 in Seattle.[3][4][1] His passing prompted tributes from the gaming community, including a permanent in-game memorial from Valve for his Soldier role in Team Fortress 2.[6]
Early life and education
Childhood and family
Richard May, known professionally as Rick May, was born on September 21, 1940, in Bassano, Alberta, Canada.[8]His parents were James and Beryl May.[9] The family moved to Laurelhurst in Seattle before he started high school, maintaining ties to both Canada and the United States and shaping his dual cultural identity. He had a younger sister, Linda Forseth (1944–2018).[9]May attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle.
Education and early influences
May attended Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Washington, where he actively participated in acting and musical activities, including playing the trumpet and leading his own dance band as a proud Rough Rider.[10] These high school experiences ignited his passion for the stage and helped develop his versatile talents in drama and music.[10]After graduating from high school, May enrolled at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he immersed himself in the theater program by taking on leading roles in productions.[9] He also continued his musical pursuits with the trumpet during his studies, which further refined his performative skills and reinforced his commitment to a career in acting and directing.[9] Graduating in 1962, May's college theater involvement served as a pivotal influence, motivating his professional entry into the performing arts through subsequent opportunities in stage work.[9]
Professional career
Military service and early directing
After attending college, Rick May enlisted in the U.S. Army and initially served in the Army Dance Band in Washington, D.C., where he played trumpet at events including White House functions and services at Arlington National Cemetery.[10] He was later transferred to Japan and stationed at Camp Zama, where his duties expanded to include producing, directing, and acting in theatrical plays for troops, as well as coordinating United Service Organizations (USO) shows in Tokyo and managing the post's performing-arts stage to host celebrity entertainment.[10][11] During this period, May also dubbed Japanese films into English, providing voices for hundreds of characters, which honed his performance versatility amid military responsibilities.[10]These military theater activities marked May's early immersion in directing, bridging his educational background in the arts with practical experience in staging productions under logistical constraints abroad, thereby building foundational skills in production management and ensemble coordination.[10][11]Upon returning to the United States in the mid-1960s, May settled in the Seattle area and took on the role of artistic director at the Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera in Renton, Washington, where he oversaw operations and directed community theater productions as part of his initial civilian career in the arts.[10][11] This position allowed him to apply his military-honed directing expertise to local stages, focusing on a range of plays and musicals that engaged community audiences and further developed his leadership in theatrical presentation.[10] Over time, his work at Renton established him as a key figure in regional theater, contributing to over 300 directed or performed shows throughout his career, with the early Renton tenure solidifying his reputation for innovative staging within resource-limited community settings.[10]
Theater performances and directing
Rick May established a prominent presence in Seattle-area theater through his multifaceted roles as actor and director, particularly during his tenure as artistic director of the Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera, where he oversaw and contributed to hundreds of productions spanning classical drama, musicals, and contemporary works.[9] Over four decades, he directed or performed in more than 300 shows, demonstrating remarkable versatility in ensemble pieces and lead roles across regional venues like the Driftwood Players and GreenStage.[4] His early directing experiences in the U.S. Army during the 1960s laid the foundation for this evolution into professional theater leadership.[9]A highlight of May's acting career was his one-man portrayal of all 21 characters in Cotton Patch Gospel at the Renton Civic Theatre, where he employed distinct vocal characterizations to bring the musical's retelling of biblical stories to life, earning praise for his innovative solo performance style.[11] He excelled in diverse leading roles that showcased his range, including Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, King Henry II in The Lion in Winter, and Theodore Roosevelt in the condensed production Bully! at the Wade James Theatre, where his commanding stage presence transformed historical and literary figures into vivid, relatable personas.[11] Other notable performances included Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner with GreenStage and the husband in Deathtrap at Renton Civic, often collaborating with his wife, actress Diana Lilly.[12][9]In directing, May emphasized fresh interpretations of both established and emerging works, such as introducing Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce to the Driftwood Players in 1982 and helming USO tours in Tokyo that blended comedy and drama for international audiences.[11] His approach prioritized ensemble dynamics and character-driven narratives, as seen in his adaptations like the streamlined Bully!, which highlighted thematic depth without sacrificing accessibility.[11] Upon retiring from his day job in 2001, May founded his own theater company in Kirkland, Washington, enabling full-time dedication to creating and staging original and classic productions in the Pacific Northwest.[8] Critics lauded his contributions for bridging classical and modern theater, with The Seattle Times describing him as a "stage chameleon" whose transformative performances invigorated local scenes.[11]
Voice acting and radio work
Rick May transitioned into voice acting in the late 1990s, marking his debut with the role of Peppy Hare in the video gameStar Fox 64 (1997), where he also voiced the antagonist Andross.[13] He auditioned for the parts through his agent and recorded at studios in Seattle, such as Bad Animals or Earforce, in short sessions focused on the limited dialogue.[14] Without specific direction on the character's voice, May approached Peppy organically as a wise, avuncular mentor figure, delivering lines like "Do a barrel roll!" in a straightforward manner that became iconic among fans.[14] This role showcased his ability to convey warmth and urgency, drawing from his extensive theater background to infuse vocal versatility into the anthropomorphic rabbit pilot.[2]May's most enduring video game contribution came in 2007 with his portrayal of the Soldier in Team Fortress 2, a boisterous, patriotic mercenary whose bombastic delivery defined the character's over-the-top persona.[3] His performance featured memorable lines such as "Maggots!" and rants about war, delivered with a gravelly, drill-sergeant intensity that resonated deeply with players.[15] The role's fan impact was profound, inspiring widespread memes, cosplay, and community tributes; following May's death in 2020, Valve honored him with a permanent in-game memorial statue reciting Soldier lines and a special menu theme.[15] Though details on the recording process are sparse, May's improvisational flair from stage work likely contributed to the character's unscripted energy and quotability.[3]In radio, May enjoyed a long tenure voicing Inspector Lestrade in the audio drama series The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1998–2020), produced by Imagination Theatre, where he portrayed the gruff Scotland Yard detective across numerous episodes.[16] His performance brought authoritative depth to the role, complementing the ensemble cast in adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and original tales.[16]Beyond these highlights, May lent his voice to other games, including Dr. M in Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005) and various characters in Age of Empires II (1999), while animation credits were limited.[2] These recorded performances extended his theater-honed skills into digital media, allowing him to explore diverse characters through audio alone.[13]
Teaching and mentorship
Rick May served as a dedicated instructor in voiceover acting at Rekindle School, an independent art school in Seattle, from 2010 until 2020.[17] In this role, he led a series of progressive courses designed to build foundational and advanced skills in the field, including Voiceover 101, which introduced basic techniques; Voiceover 102 and 103, which delved into advanced performance and recording practices; and Accents and Dialects 101 and 103, focusing on vocal versatility for character work.[17] These classes drew directly from May's extensive experience as a performer, allowing him to impart practical insights into voice modulation, timing, and emotional delivery essential for professional auditions and recordings.[4]May's teaching philosophy centered on the profound value of his students' growth, viewing his classes as deeply meaningful opportunities to foster emerging talent in the performing arts.[4] He emphasized hands-on, experiential learning, encouraging participants to explore improvisation, character building, and authentic expression—elements honed through his own decades in theater and voice work.[17] This approach not only equipped students with technical proficiency but also instilled confidence, as evidenced by the personal significance he attributed to mentoring the next generation of actors.[4]As the long-time artistic director of Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera in Seattle, May extended his mentorship through directing over 300 productions, where he guided actors in ensemble work, script interpretation, and stage presence.[17] This leadership role integrated seamlessly with his teaching, as he often incorporated real-world directing experiences into his Rekindle School workshops, bridging classroom instruction with professional theater practice.[4] His voice acting expertise, particularly in creating distinctive character voices, was a cornerstone of these educational efforts, helping students apply similar techniques in both stage and audio contexts.[17]
Death and legacy
Illness and death
In February 2020, Rick May suffered a stroke, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent transfer to a nursing home in the Seattle area for rehabilitation.[3]Amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, he contracted the virus while at the facility.[3]May was then transferred to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle for further treatment.[18]He died there from complications related to COVID-19 on April 8, 2020, at the age of 79.[19]The Rekindle School in Seattle, where May had taught voice acting classes for a decade, announced his death publicly on April 13, 2020, with the family's involvement in sharing the news after a period of privacy during his illness.[3]His funeral was held on August 25, 2020. May was buried at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington, honoring his U.S. Army service.[8][20]
Tributes and posthumous recognition
Following Rick May's death in April 2020, Valve Corporation issued a public statement honoring his contributions as the voice of the Soldier in Team Fortress 2, describing him as "the inimitable voice of the Soldier for thirteen years, many shorts and countless updates."[21] The company implemented an in-game tribute starting May 1, 2020, featuring temporary statues of the Soldier on maps like Granary that periodically played May's iconic voice lines, such as "This is my world! You are not welcome in my world!" This tribute extended through the month of May to allow players to pay respects.[21] On August 21, 2020, Valve made the tribute permanent by adding smaller Soldier statues to the Granary map, ensuring ongoing recognition within the game.[22]The gaming community responded with widespread in-game gatherings and events in 2020, where players on public servers observed temporary truces, spammed Soldier taunts, and replayed his lines in coordinated vigils to celebrate his bombastic portrayal of the character.[23] Fans created and shared numerous recreations of May's performances online, including montages and covers of Soldier quotes that highlighted his energetic delivery, contributing to a surge in Team Fortress 2 player engagement during the tribute period.[24]In the Seattle theater community, where May had a long career as a performer and director, Rekindle School—where he taught voice-overacting from 2010 to 2020—issued a memorial statement expressing profound sadness and reminiscing about his passion for the craft, noting his role in over 300 productions.[25] Colleagues and students shared personal reflections on his mentorship, emphasizing his influence on local arts education and stage work.On December 20, 2024, Valve released a new Team Fortress 2 comic, "The Days Have Worn Away," explicitly dedicated to May as "one hell of a soldier," marking the first such installment in nearly eight years and focusing on the Soldier's arc with themes of history, redemption, and festive closure.[26] This posthumous dedication drew enthusiastic responses from fans, who praised it as a fitting capstone to May's legacy in the franchise. No formal posthumous awards were announced in voice acting or radio circles, though his work continued to be referenced in industry discussions on enduring voice performances.[26]
Notable works
Film and television roles
Rick May's screen career began with an uncredited appearance in George Lucas's American Graffiti (1973), where he portrayed the "Boy in the Car," a minor ensemble member contributing to the film's nostalgic depiction of 1960s teenage cruising culture.[27] This role marked his entry into film, showcasing his ability to blend into a star-studded cast including Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfuss, and highlighted his versatility in supporting the movie's improvisational, character-driven scenes filmed on location in Northern California. Though uncredited, May's participation in the production, which captured authentic period energy through non-professional and local actors, underscored his early adaptability from stage to the more restrained demands of cinema.In 1982, May appeared uncredited as a Policeman in Frances, a biographical drama directed by Graeme Clifford, starring Jessica Lange as the troubled actress Frances Farmer.[28] His brief role added to the film's gritty portrayal of Farmer's institutionalization and societal pressures, demonstrating May's skill in embodying authoritative figures with subtle physicality suited to the screen's close-up scrutiny.[29]May took on a credited supporting role as the Doctor in The Chocolate War (1988), Keith Gordon's adaptation of Robert Cormier's novel about conformity and rebellion at a Catholic boys' school.[30] Playing a school authority figure, his performance contributed to the tense atmosphere of psychological manipulation among the students, emphasizing his range in dramatic, understated authority roles that contrasted with the more bombastic stage characterizations he was known for.One of May's more prominent on-screen appearances was in the television movie Child in the Night (1990), directed by Mike Robe, where he played Captain Hook in a hallucinatory sequence tied to the young protagonist's trauma. Starring alongside JoBeth Williams and Elijah Wood, May's portrayal of the menacing pirate figure in the child's imagination enhanced the film's exploration of repressed memories and abuse, earning note for its eerie, theatrical flair adapted to the medium's intimate psychological focus.[31] The role received positive mention for its contribution to the story's dreamlike tension, distinguishing May's live-action work through visual expressiveness over vocal projection.May's film and television roles, often minor but impactful, differed from his stage and voice work by requiring concise physical gestures and timing to camera, rather than the expansive projection and audience interaction of theater or the isolated audio delivery of voice acting.[32] These screen appearances, spanning ensemble comedies to intense dramas, illustrated his broad acting range in visual media.
Video game voice roles
Rick May's video game voice work spanned the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, where he brought distinctive energy and character to iconic roles in several prominent titles, leveraging his background in radio performances for immersive audio experiences.[1] His contributions often emphasized mentorship, villainy, or bombastic heroism, influencing player engagement in narrative-driven and action-oriented games.One of May's earliest and most enduring roles was as Peppy Hare in Star Fox 64 (1997), a Nintendo 64 rail shooter developed by Nintendo EAD. Peppy, an elderly hare and veteran pilot, serves as a mentor to protagonist Fox McCloud, drawing from his backstory as a survivor of the original Star Fox team's betrayal on Venom during a mission against the villainous Andross; this experience positions Peppy as a wise advisor offering tactical guidance amid interstellar battles. May voiced Peppy with an enthusiastic British accent, delivering advisory lines like "Do a barrel roll!" in a cheerful, grandfatherly tone that became synonymous with the character's supportive role. In the same Star Fox 64, May also voiced Andross, the simian mad scientistantagonist whose distorted, menacing delivery contrasted sharply with Peppy's warmth, heightening the game's climactic confrontations.[2][33]May's portrayal of the Soldier in Team Fortress 2 (2007), a multiplayer first-person shooter by Valve, stands as his most iconic video game role, embodying an over-the-top American patriot rocket-jumping into combat. Hired in early 2006, May recorded hundreds of lines in studio sessions, capturing the character's bombastic fervor through yelling and misquoted philosophy, such as in the "Meet the Soldier" animated short: "If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight! Sun Tzu said that, and I'd say he knows a little more about fighting than you do, pal, because he invented it, and then he perfected it so that no living man could best him in the ring of honor." Other key quotes include battle cries like "If God had wanted you to live, he would not have created me!" and triumphant taunts such as "We are the best kind of stupid," which amplified the Soldier's humorous, aggressive personality in team-based matches. In 2012, May returned for additional recording sessions to provide new voice lines for the Mann vs. Machine co-operative update, expanding the character's dialogue for robot enemy waves and reinforcing his enduring presence in the game's evolving content. Unlike motion-capture heavy productions, Team Fortress 2's voice work relied on automated dialogue replacement (ADR) techniques, where May performed isolated lines for contextual triggers like kills or objectives, allowing seamless integration into the fast-paced gameplay without visual synchronization.[34][35][36]May's other video game credits include voicing Genghis Khan and various campaign narrators in Age of Empires II (1999), a real-time strategy game by Ensemble Studios, where his authoritative tone narrated historical conquests and unit commands. In Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005), a PlayStation 2 platformer by Sucker Punch Productions, he lent his voice to Dr. M, a cunning, vengeful octopus scientist serving as the final boss, delivering lines with a sophisticated, sinister edge during stealth-based missions. Additional roles encompass Dadfish and Marty Sardini in Freddi Fish 5: The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove (2001), an educational adventure game by Humongous Entertainment, where May's warm, folksy delivery suited the underwater mystery aimed at young players. He also voiced Wingnut in Pajama Sam 2: Thunder and Lightning Aren't So Frightening (1998). These performances highlight May's versatility in game voicing, often involving iterative ADR sessions to match interactive scenarios, such as branching dialogues or environmental cues unique to the medium.[1][2]
Game Title
Year
Role(s)
Star Fox 64
1997
Peppy Hare, Andross
Pajama Sam 2: Thunder and Lightning Aren't So Frightening
1998
Wingnut
Age of Empires II
1999
Genghis Khan, various campaign characters
Freddi Fish 5: The Case of the Creature of Coral Cove
2001
Dadfish, Marty Sardini
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
2005
Dr. M
Team Fortress 2
2007
Soldier
Theater credits
Rick May's theater career encompassed over 300 productions as an actor and director, primarily in the Seattle-area regional theater scene, where he was a prominent figure at the Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera.[4] His stage work spanned Shakespearean drama, classic American plays, and musicals, often showcasing his versatility in character roles and one-man performances.[4]
Acting Credits
May's notable acting roles included:
Brutus in Julius Caesar, a Shakespearean production highlighting his command of classical tragedy.[8]
Benjamin Franklin in 1776, where he portrayed the Founding Father in the musical depiction of American independence.[4]
Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, embodying the beleaguered milkman in the iconic musical.[4]
Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, delivering Arthur Miller's tragic everyman in a role that demonstrated his dramatic depth.[4]
Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion, as the irreverent dustman in George Bernard Shaw's social satire.[8]
Theodore Roosevelt in Bully! An Adventure with Teddy Roosevelt, an award-winning one-man show that he toured nationally.[4]
Captain Hook in Peter Pan, bringing villainous flair to the pirate captain in family-oriented productions.[8]
Teddy Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace, as the delusional brother in the Kesselring comedy.[4]
Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the scheming slave in the Sondheim musical farce.[4]
W. O. Gant in Look Homeward, Angel, the patriarchal figure in Thomas Wolfe's autobiographical drama.[4]
Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, the slovenly sportswriter in Neil Simon's buddy comedy.[4]
Weller Martin in The Gin Game, the cantankerous resident in D.L. Coburn's two-hander drama.[4]
Sid Borden in Take Me Along, the boisterous uncle in the musical adaptation of Ah, Wilderness!.[4]
Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind, the fundamentalist prosecutor in the Scopes Trial-inspired play.[4]
Matthew the Storyteller (all 21 roles) in Cotton Patch Gospel, a one-man musical retelling of the Gospels set in modern Georgia, which he performed for three seasons at Renton Civic Theatre.[4]
Additionally, May toured nationally as the narrator in Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, a spoken-word orchestral piece featuring excerpts from Lincoln's speeches.[4]
Directing Credits
As the long-time artistic director of Renton Civic Theatre and Civic Light Opera in Renton, Washington, May directed numerous productions from the 1970s until 2001, when he left to found his own theater company in Kirkland, Washington, fostering regional theater with a mix of classics, musicals, and original works.[4] After leaving Renton, he continued directing freelance, including revivals and new pieces for local companies in the Seattle area, though specific post-2001 titles remain less documented in available records.[4] His leadership emphasized ensemble work and community engagement, often blending acting and directing in the same seasons.[4]