with:
Troy Baker
Troy Baker Almost Walked Out on The Last of Us
Summary:
Troy Baker nearly talked himself out of the audition that would change gaming history. Standing outside the casting room for The Last of Us, he convinced himself he was wrong for Joel Miller and almost left. That moment of doubt captures something essential about Baker’s approach to his craft—he’s constantly pushing against his comfort zone, even when it terrifies him.
In this conversation, Baker traces his path from sweating in a converted computer room at Gearbox Software to becoming the voice behind Joel Miller, Booker DeWitt, and Indiana Jones. The journey wasn’t planned. He started as a musician in Texas, stumbled into voiceover work doing car commercials, and ended up in LA after Val Kilmer told him that some doors, when they open, demand you walk through them.
What comes through is Baker’s resistance to the usual industry playbook. He turns down roles that feel too safe. He insists on meeting directors face-to-face rather than just sending tapes. He rejected the Joker role twice before the team convinced him to get over himself and trust them. These aren’t the moves of someone playing it safe—they’re calculated risks from someone who’s learned that his successes taught him nothing while his mistakes taught him everything.
Baker’s take on the current state of the industry cuts through the noise. On AI, he sees it as another tool rather than an existential threat. On aspiring voice actors chasing social media metrics, he’s blunt: if you’re doing this for money or followers, you’ll only ever have a job, never a career. His philosophy is simple: be in service to the story, ask better questions, and recognize that making art requires risk.
The conversation ranges from his technical approach (he still loves his first $99 Guitar Center mic) to working with David Fincher, from the challenges of embodying Harrison Ford to how becoming a father changed his understanding of Joel. Throughout, Baker maintains that his process is having no process—each project demands its own approach, its own questions, its own risks.
For anyone interested in how creative work actually happens, this is worth your time.
WATCH:
In SESSION WITH:
Troy Baker
Actor / Director
Troy Baker is one of the most prolific and recognizable voice actors in the video game and animation industry, with a career spanning over two decades. Born on April 1, 1976, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Baker initially pursued music before transitioning into voice acting in the mid-2000s. His distinctive voice and exceptional range have made him a sought-after talent for leading roles in major franchises, earning him multiple Behind the Voice Actors Awards and BAFTA Games Award nominations.
Baker’s breakthrough came with roles that would define a generation of gaming narratives. He is best known for his portrayal of Joel Miller in The Last of Us series, a performance that garnered critical acclaim for its emotional complexity. Other iconic video game roles include Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, Sam Drake in Uncharted 4, Pagan Min in Far Cry 4, and Talion in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. He’s uniquely portrayed both Batman and the Joker in major releases, demonstrating his remarkable versatility.
Beyond video games, Baker has established himself prominently in animation and anime. He has voiced characters in Young Justice, Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble, and numerous anime dubs including Naruto Shippuden (Yamato), One Piece, and Fullmetal Alchemist. Baker is also an accomplished musician who was the lead singer for Tripp Fontaine and has released solo music, frequently integrating these talents into his voice work. He has expanded his industry role as a voice director and co-founded the performance capture studio Metaverse Studios, becoming an advocate for the craft through speaking engagements and his thoughtful discussions about storytelling in interactive media.
