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twistedtummies2 · 3 months

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ReCount: Top 15 Keith David Performances

Earlier this month, one of my favorite actors - Keith David - celebrated 68 years of living on this planet. Mostly known for his work in voice acting, David is a multi-talented performer whom I love for many reasons. One is how prolific his body of work is, in more ways than one, and another is his natural charisma and vocal power…but I think what I admire most about this performer is his dedication and energy. David is one of those actors who subscribes to a philosophy I personally believe in, and which I think ALL good actors SHOULD believe in: “Do your best, and try to have fun doing it, no matter what.” If you’re in a bad production, then be the bright spot that makes it all worth it; and if you’re in a good production - which, hopefully, will be norm - be one of the things that makes it so great. Keith David has been both of these numerous times in his career, and I will always respect that highly. A while back, I made a very brief “description-less” list of my favorite David roles, but since then things have changed: I’ve been introduced to some new performances from the actor, re-evaluated older ones I already enjoyed, and even been reminded of a couple I knew about but had not witnessed in so long, I completely forgot they existed. (My age is catching up to me already, I swear, and I’m only barely thirty.) So, I decided it was time to do a “ReCount” for this performer. And, as I so often do with my ReCounts, I decided to expand the list and go a bit further. So, with that said…here are My Top 15 Keith David Performances!

15. The Narrator, from Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked.

It’s not surprising that, with his impeccable and powerful vocals, Keith David has been the narrator for SEVERAL documentary programs. By far my favorite, however, is this one, released twenty years ago in 2004, as a tie-in with the History Channel to the upcoming film “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.” (Ironically, neither the movie nor the comic ever gets discussed in this documentary…weird.) “Comic Book Superheroes Unmasked” tells the history of superhero comics from the late 1930s all the way into then-modern day. (Obviously, some information here is out of date or just old news, due to the thing being two decades old.) It covers some of the more important comics published, some of the more interesting moments in the history of the medium, and some of the more noteworthy creators who have been responsible for bringing such stories and characters to life. David was a great choice for such a program; as this list will show, he’s actually got a LOT of experience playing comic book characters, both before and since, a couple of which are focused on in the documentary (likely not coincidentally). As a result, there’s a certain authenticity to his presence here. There’s not much to say; the thing about documentary narration is that it’s meant to be kept very neutral in tone, most of the time, and helps to both convey information and help with the mood without being extravagantly produced. It’s more the fact that I love this documentary so much that gives it placement here.

14. The Cheshire Cat, from Once Upon a Time in Wonderland.

This is a role I’m 99% sure NOBODY but myself would place on a countdown of this nature…but that’s the beauty of personal opinions: they belong to the one giving them alone, and that’s really all this list is about. In this spin-off series of “Once Upon a Time,” Alice and the Knave of Hearts go on a quest to stop the Red Queen (not to be confused with the Queen of Hearts), and rescue Alice’s love - a genie called Cyrus - from the Queen’s new ally: Jafar, of all characters. In the first episode, the Cheshire Cat shows up for a brief scene; it’s indicated that he and Alice used to be friends, but the massive, predatory feline has gone madder than ever with hunger. He turns on Alice, attempting to devour her, but is finally stopped by the intervention of the Knave. Upon his defeat, the Cat flees into the forest…and is sadly never seen again. I was rather disappointed the Cheshire Cat showed up for only such a brief time, especially since it would have been easy to bring him back and explore the setup of the character more - a villain who used to be a friend is a powerful concept - but alas, twas not to be. David uses a different sort of voice than he usually has (I’m not sure if it’s by his own work or if the voice was altered after the fact), much more high and “slithery” sounding, which actually works to give the Cat a decided creepiness, while still being silky and dangerous as ever. It also helps to differentiate him from a certain other magical feline in the actor’s resume…but that’s another story.

13. Okkoto, from Princess Mononoke.

It had been so long since I’d seen this movie in-full, I actually completely forgot David was even IN it. The moment I realized this, I made sure to give the entire feature a return visit. This classic anime picture by Studio Ghibli - the work of the great Hayao Miyazaki - focuses on the conflict between humans and various forest-dwelling spirits. Among these Gods of the Mountains is Okkoto: a huge, blind, white boar who leads a tribe of giant pig-beasts to attack Iron Town, a human settlement responsible for causing chaos in the woods by attacking many of these spirits and gods. At first, Okkoto is depicted as a strong but wise leader; powerful, but capable of mercy and understanding. However, his pain and anger ultimately lead to him becoming a demon, at which point he loses all of his intelligence, becoming a mad, mindless beast. While David’s time behind the mic is relatively small, it is memorable: he gives Okkoto a sort of tender but firm quality, and a touch of eternal weariness. It’s an ancient and soothing voice, which makes the change when Okkoto becomes a bloodthirsty, voiceless monster all the more startling.

12. Mr. Simms, from Tales From the Hood II.

This sequel to the 1995 cult classic “Tales From the Hood” is…exceptionally terrible. The first movie presented a series of stories that combined horror with humor and social commentary, particularly focused on the hardships of African Americans. It did so in a way that never felt too preachy, too annoying, or too excessive. Unfortunately, despite being written by the same exact people, the sequel is all of these things: the messages are hamfisted, the attempts at humor are mostly pretty annoying, and it mostly comes across as weird and gross more than it does legitimately scary. If there is one bright spot in the film, however, it is Keith David in the role of our host for the day: Mr. Simms. Like in most horror anthology pieces, there is a framing device that features a specific character who helps guide things along, much like in “Tales From the Crypt.” For these movies, that role goes to Simms: a funeral home director who is (rather transparently, so I don’t think it’s a spoiler) the Devil himself. In the original film, Simms was played by Clarence Williams III; he had retired from acting by the time of the second picture, and David was given the role. It’s honestly hard for me to say which version of the character I like more: Williams played the character with a manic intensity that was equal parts entertaining and extremely creepy. David, however, brings a sense of verbose power and a suave, slick, smooth demeanor, which is different enough while still having the same blend of humorous eccentricity and ominous danger behind his actions and words. He is, by far, the most entertaining part of the movie, and steals the show from the top to bottom. I actually was tempted to place Simms higher, but the rest of the movie is just so utterly appalling I don’t think it’s fair to do so.

11. Despero, from Justice League.

As I said before, Keith David has played many characters in superhero pieces. This is the first of a few to make the list. Despero is a supervillain from DC comics, who has repeatedly been a pain in the capes for the Justice League. When the DCAU made their animated series adaptation of the Justice League, it was only natural Despero would come along to cause trouble at some point or another. In the two-part story “Hearts and Minds,” Despero’s origins are given a tragic leaning, as it’s revealed he was an outcast among his own people on the planet Kalanor due to an alarming deformity: a third eye. Forced to wander through the wastes of the world, he eventually came into contact with a mystical power, which gave him psychic abilities and superhuman strength. Believing he had been chosen to rule Kalanor, Despero used his powers to take over his home planet, taking his revenge by subjugating the rest of his kind, all while claiming to be trying to lead his people to paradise. I don’t know that much about Despero in the comics, but this version of him was a really fun interpretation: like it so often did, the DCAU took a villain who could have just been a pure evil monster, and gave him layers of sympathy and complexity that made him unique. I don’t think I can say this is one of my top ten favorites of David’s roles, but it does come pretty close.

10. Keith the Handyman, from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

For those of you who don’t already know, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” was a children’s show hosted by the late, great Fred Rogers. It’s…hard to describe what the show was really about. It was a very mellow series focused on the titular Mr. Rogers, as he invited guests over, checked on his mail, taught kids about various jobs, and occasionally presented stories taking place in a fairy-tale world filled with puppets. Still early on in his career, David played a character called “Keith the Handyman,” who was one of Mr. Rogers’ neighbors. He appeared as a carpenter, a tinkerer, and an arcade machine fixer-upper in various episodes. David described the show as “kind of complex, but also simple,” which I think is a great way to put it: the series had a very calm, simple way of talking to its young audience, and presented very simple, loveable characters…but it also dealt with ideas, themes, concepts, and issues that were really complex. David admitted that, at the time, he didn’t fully understand the series, but over time he came to respect both the show and its host a great deal: he liked how neither ever talked down to the audience, and treated complicated concepts in a way small girls and boys could understand. David has never been alone in these feelings, and for good reason.

9. Dr. Tenma, from Pluto.

This, unless I’m mistaken, is David’s first role in an anime since Princess Mononoke. That film came out in 1999; that makes for over two decades between it and “Pluto,” which came out in 2023. “Pluto” is a dark, Alan-Moore-esque reimagining of the famous anime/manga series “Astro Boy.” I should point out that I know…basically nothing ABOUT Astro Boy, in its original form, aside from the fact it’s considered a “classic” and…well…exists. As a result, I was able to go into “Pluto” almost completely blind, with no real preconceptions or biases at all. There are many things to admire about this sci-fi mystery thriller, one of them being the voice cast…and among the most noteworthy of those voices is David as Dr. Tenma. While Tenma doesn’t show up till about halfway through the series, his presence is an important one from that point on. He is the creator of Atom (a.k.a. Astro Boy himself), and is one of the more complicated characters of the show, as well as one of the ones who holds the key to the mystery that unfolds through the series. While Tenma is a protagonist in the series, he’s an extremely complex individual; responsible for some terrible things, and willing to go to some dangerous measures to achieve the results he wants. He’s not evil, but he toes a fine line of ethics and morality almost from start to finish. While at first I found David’s voice slightly distracting, I very quickly bought into his work, and he is one of several highly impressive voice actors in the dub. This is one of those anime where I feel one really should watch the English version, and his appearance in it is part of the reason why.

8. Childs, from The Thing.

This is arguably David’s most famous live-action appearance on this countdown. John Carpenter’s “The Thing” - adapted from a story by John W. Campbell Jr., which in turn was inspired by a story by H.P. Lovecraft - is a classic sci-fi horror movie. Many consider it one of the best ever made. The plot focuses on a group of people working at a research facility in Antarctica, who are put under siege by a shapeshifting extraterrestrial that assimilates and consumes other living creatures. The film is well-renowned partially due to its extremely gory, gruesome, and grotesque special effects, as the Thing changes forms and absorbs its victims, and partially for its deeper subject matter: the alien’s abilities make the “real” enemy of the story the team’s distrust of one another, as they are constantly second-guessing if one of their members is the monster in disguise. One of the most interesting characters in the story is Childs, one of the team’s chief mechanics who is the first to discover the Thing’s chief weakness: fire. Once again, this was fairly early in David’s career, but it’s certainly a landmark for his onscreen appearances, especially given the way the film ends…but I mustn’t say more, or I will ruin the story.

7. Black Panther, from Fantastic Four: The Animated Series.

This was one of several Marvel cartoon shows made in the 1990s, all taking place in the same shared universe, along with “Spider-Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” I watched all of them growing up, and all of them had their pros and cons. One of the coolest pros in the Fantastic Four series was the episode “Prey of the Black Panther,” in which the titular quartet meet the King of Wakanda. The Panther is something of an anti-hero in this story, as he actually lures the Fantastic Four to his home in the wilds of Africa and battles them as part of an elaborate test. Eventually, the heroes put aside their differences and work together to defeat the evil Klaw…and also a giant gorilla covered in tomato paste. (As you do.) David, of course, was great casting for the role of the Black Panther, and I’m surprised he never played the character again after this, at least to my knowledge, as he plays the role perfectly. My only problem with this appearance, and the main reason why the Panther doesn’t get higher on the list, is that he only shows up in one episode…and, like with a lot of stories in these shows honestly, the episode is sort of rushed for time. It tries to cram a LOT of story into less than half an hour, and so the pacing is a bit off. Still, the actual depiction of the character is a strong one, and probably one of my favorites to date.

6. Imam, from The Chronicles of Riddick.

For those who don’t know, “The Chronicles of Riddick” was a series of sci-fi action/adventure movies, starring Vin Diesel. They were made at an early point in Diesel’s acting career, and - despite gaining only a lukewarm-at-best critical response - gained a cult following with audiences pretty quickly. The series consisted of three live-action movies, an animated short film, a non-canon prequel, and a couple of video games. Imam’s real name is Abu al-Walid; his pseudonym is a reference to the prayer-leaders of Islamism, though whether it’s an actual title or just a nickname is unclear. He is a holy man who seeks to find “New Mecca.” He appears in the first film of the series, “Pitch Black,” wherein Imam ends up being one of the survivors of a crashed ship. Riddick - a mysterious intergalactic criminal - was being transported on the same ship to face trial. When alien lifeforms called Bioraptors begin hunting the survivors, they’re forced to rely on Riddick to lead the way and help them escape. At first, Imam and Riddick don’t exactly get along (for likely obvious reasons), but as the story goes on, not only is the holy man’s faith in God tested, but his faith in Riddick begins to grow at the same time. Eventually, the two characters end up becoming friends. Imam returned in the animated spin-off, “Dark Fury,” and had a small but important role in the sequel, “Chronicles of Riddick.” This was one of the first live-action roles I saw David in (I think prior to this Mr. Rogers was the only other example), and it was interesting to see him play a character like this. In many ways, I think Imam was one of the most complex characters of the series, and I really wish we could have seen even more of him.

5. The Cat, from Coraline.

This is the other cat I mentioned when I spoke of the Cheshire Cat earlier in the list. And to be honest, this character always reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s tricky feline, both in the original Neil Gaiman novel and perhaps especially in the Henry-Selick-made stop-motion movie. This raggedy black cat is a mysterious creature, able to travel between the “real” world and the Other World. While he can only speak in the latter, he seems to be equally intelligent no matter where he goes, and appears to have strange powers: like the Cheshire Cat, he seems able to disappear and reappear entirely at will. The Cat is an ally to Coraline - giving her advice (albeit in the most snarky way possible) and helping to keep her safe during her travels in the Other World - but his motives and origins are very unclear. We don’t really know why he wants to help her, or how he has the powers he has, or even what he really is. It’s indicated that he’s an old enemy of the Other Mother - the main villain of the story - but exactly why they’re enemies is unclear. It’s also indicated he’s fond of Wybie, in both worlds - an eccentric local boy who becomes Coraline’s best friend - but why this is, or if it has any bearing on his reasons for what he does, is anybody’s guess. With so many unanswered questions, he quickly becomes one of the most fascinating characters in the story, and David’s vocals help a good deal. He plays the Cat with a smooth, slightly sinister-sounding charm, which gives the character an unsettling edge despite his apparent good intentions and actions. It helps to keep the viewers guessing the whole while, and the sarcastic, slick feline’s snarky attitude leads to some great bits of dialogue.

4. Husk, from Hazbin Hotel.

Speaking of snarky felines…if you know me well, this guy being so high up won’t be even remotely a surprise. Husk is one of David’s most recent roles, but I’m already convinced he’s one of the best, and a shoe-in for my top five. For those who don’t know, “Hazbin Hotel” is a web series on Amazon Prime (started by a pilot you can find on YouTube, which had a completely different cast), which is a combination of adult humor and animated musical. The story takes place in Hell itself, where Charlie Morningstar - the daughter of Lucifer - decides to try and create a hotel where wayward souls can seek redemption and gain access to the pearly gates. There are lots of reasons for this, but part of the reason is because Heaven has taken to carrying out annual “exorcisms,” sending hordes of angels down to cull some of the population of Hell to keep it from getting overcrowded. Charlie wants these exterminations to end, so - with the (extremely sketchy) help of a demon called Alastor - she begins to work on finding a way to get the hotel working and show Heaven the plan to redeem souls rather than punish them has benefits. Husk, one of the major characters of the series, is the hotel’s grouchy bartender; a former Overlord of Hell who lost a bet with Alastor, and is now forced to do whatever the demon says. Not only is David delightfully funny throughout this comedic series, but there’s also other layers that come out, too. Husk is grumpy, foul-mouthed, and cares a lot more about drinking and gambling than getting into Heaven, but as the show goes, on softer sides to him come to light. What’s interesting is that David is something of an outlier in the cast, to a degree: the creator of the show wanted a “Broadway cast” for the series, and for the most part, that’s exactly the case. Many of the actors in the show are more well-known for their work in musical theatre than film or television. David is the one exception: he’s done his share of theatre, and even a couple of musicals, but he’s much more well-known for his work as a voice actor. Despite this, he fits in like a glove…and hey, he gets the best song of the series, so I’m obviously not going to complain.

3. Spawn.

Of all the comic book characters Keith David has played, none have been more noteworthy in his career than Spawn: the superhero identity of Al Simmons, a police officer with a dark past. After Simmons is brutally betrayed and murdered, he finds himself dragged down to Hell, where the Devil transforms him into “Hellspawn,” forced to do his bidding. Eventually, Spawn escapes the Devil’s clutches, and proceeds to use his demonic powers to punish and hunt down evildoers (think Ghost Rider, but with an arguably even worse film adaptation). David is arguably the definitive voice actor for the character, much in the way the late Kevin Conroy was considered the definitive voice of Batman, or Tim Daly and George Newbern have been considered the definitive voices of Superman. Like them, he first played the character in a 1990s animated TV series; if I’m not mistaken, it was one of the first truly adult animated superhero series ever made, able to capture all the dark elements of the Spawn comics and present characters and stories that were complex, disturbing, and gripping in their intensity. It even won a couple of Emmy Awards! Since then, David has reprised the role two or three times in video games; most notable for me was“Mortal Kombat 11,” where Spawn was one of several characters included in a DLC package. While Spawn isn’t quite as renowned as DC or Marvel’s hordes of heroes, he’s probably one of the more noteworthy characters to come from a company that ISN’T one of the big two, and hearing David play such an iconic character is always a sheer delight.

2. Goliath, from Gargoyles.

On the note of superhero fiction, “Gargoyles” was Disney’s response to the popularity of shows like “Batman: The Animated Series” and “X-Men: The Animated Series.” The series was noticeably darker in tone, and more mature in its character and storytelling complexity, than a lot of other animated Disney shows of the time. A sort of combo of dark fantasy and superhero action, the series focused on a team of living gargoyles in New York City. They work together to protect humanity from mad scientists, ancient gods, mischievous fae, immortal warriors…and, most diabolical of all…corporate businessmen. The leader of the Gargoyles, our main character, is the mighty Goliath. I’m fairly sure this was the first Keith David role I ever saw growing up, before I even knew the man’s name, and it’s still one of the most iconic to me. Having brought up Batman, Goliath actually reminds me a lot of him: strong, somewhat stoic, with a tragic past, a slight leaning to the theatrical at times…and, frankly, just a good ol’ fashioned badass. There’s not a whole lot else to say; this is one of the first roles I think of with Keith David, and it’s probably a favorite for a lot of other people, too.

1. Dr. Facilier, from The Princess and the Frog.

I think this is the role most people nowadays would recognize Keith David for most immediately. (I could be wrong there, but it’s the role I hear more people speak of in connection to his name than any other.) It was definitely the role that introduced me to the actor; yes, I’d seen and heard him in other things before, but it wasn’t till this movie that I recognized the name “Keith David” properly, if that makes any sense. Facilier is one of my favorite Disney Villains - second only to the malevolent Maleficent - and, for a while, he was a pretty big deal. Nowadays he seems to be SLIGHTLY less renowned (though certainly not by a whole lot; he’s still considered pretty popular), but most people agree he’s a lot of fun and arguably the most enjoyable character in the film. David’s voice is a big part of that: Facilier is far from the most complicated character he’s played, but he’s a very entertaining villain. The character is a slippery con artist; succinctly described by David himself as “a schemer,” he’s both constantly in control and constantly trying to gain control, which makes for an interesting contrast to the character throughout the film. He’s also one of the few villains in a Disney movie that succeeds in permanently killing off a major character in the story. David has since joined the ranks of other voice actors who have returned repeatedly to voice their character in spin-off materials for the Parks and TV; there’s no sign of him growing tired of the part, so as long as he’s around, here’s hoping more fun with Facilier and his Friends on the Other Side remains on the horizon. Without a shadow of a doubt, he is my favorite of Keith David’s many marvelous characters and performances.

HONORABLE MENTIONS INCLUDE…

Sergeant Cantrell, from The Quick and the Dead. (An excellent Western, and David is excellent in it, I just liked the fifteen options I picked more.)

The Narrator, for Egypt’s Golden Age. (A three-part documentary series on Ancient Egypt’s most famous pharaohs. Best way to learn Egyptology ever.)

Solovar, from The Flash. (Again, like with Cantrell, I just like the fifteen I chose more.)

Mongul, from Young Justice. (Would have been on the list if it weren’t for the fact I felt other versions of Mongul were even better.)

#list #countdown #best #favorites #top 15 #performances #characters #acting #film #movies #tv #animation #voice acting #keith david #happy belated birthday keith david

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