Liam O'Brien

Liam Christopher O'Brien (born May 28, 1976) is an American voice actor, writer and voice director in the Los Angeles area. He has been involved in many English-language adaptations of Japanese anime, and is also a regular in numerous video games and cartoons. His major anime roles include Gaara in Naruto, Captain Jushiro Ukitake in Bleach, Lloyd in Code Geass, and Kenzo Tenma in Monster.

Biography
O'Brien grew up in Weehawken, New Jersey. His mother Lois Wiltse O'Brien worked as an educator and as a quality assurance trainer and consultant. He started getting into acting in high school. After attending New York University Tisch School of the Arts, he worked in theater on various productions around the country. While working on a production of Romeo & Juliet in Cincinnati, he met Crispin Freeman, who helped him get into voice-over in cartoons and anime back in New York City.

O'Brien's characters have varied in terms of styles. He affirms that he plays characters that are typically insane or evil geniuses, although he has also voiced comedic characters such as Fukuyama in Girls Bravo where he said he would "break out in a sweat matching his level of nuttiness". He describes Cumoire from Tales of Vesperia as "slightly unhinged". In Darksiders, he voices the lead character War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. He describes his voicing as deeper than his usual voice, and that he portrayed him as a fairly old soul who isn't surprised at the events around him. In the video game-based film Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children he voiced Red XIII.

In addition to voice acting, O'Brien has worked as a voice director and writer on various video games and anime shows. He also participates in a web series called Critical Role, where various actors band together to play Dungeons & Dragons.

Anime

 * Sailor Moon (1992-1993) - Nephrite (Viz Dub)
 * DNA² (1994) - Junta Momonari
 * Marmalade Boy (1994-1995) - Akira Mizutani, Alex (ep. 60)
 * The Prince of Tennis (2001-2005) - Nanjirō Echizen, Masashi Arai
 * .hack//SIGN (2002) - Additional Voices
 * Duel Masters (2002-2006) - Shobu Kirafuda (eps. 27-65)
 * Naruto (2002-2007) - Gaara, Kotetsu Hagane, Kaguya Clan Member (ep. 126), Kurosuke Family Member (ep. 155) , Kunihisa Bodyguard (ep. 174) , Servant (ep. 192)
 * .hack//Legend of the Twilight (2003) - Tom (ep. 1)
 * R.O.D. the TV (2003-2004) - Criminal (ep. 1), Editor (ep. 3) , Scholar (ep. 24)
 * Bleach (2004-2012) - Jushiro Ukitake, Taichi Miyamoto, Sora Inoue, Baigon, Rikichi, Sōken Ishida, Acidwire, Komae (ep. 97), Citizen (ep. 113) , Research & Development Staff (ep. 113) , Kakuyoku Wielding Assassin (ep. 171) , Harunobu Ogidō (ep. 245) , Additional Voices
 * Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (2004-2005) - Marquis Andrea Cavalcanti
 * Samurai Champloo (2004-2005) - Young Yamane (ep. 9), Eel Stand Owner (ep. 11) , Additional Voices
 * Afro Samurai (2007) - Kihachi (ep. 1), Patron 4 (ep. 1)
 * Gurren Lagann (2007) - Guinble Kaito, Man (ep. 26)
 * The Slayers Revolution (2008) - Pirate Captain (ep. 1), Bar Patron (ep. 3) , Sorcerer (ep. 3) , Engineer (ep. 9) , Rezo (ep. 10)
 * The Slayers Evolution-R (2009) - Rezo, Old Man (ep. 2)
 * Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement (2014) - Tokugawa Ieyasu

Anime Films

 * Appleseed (2004) - Leyton, ESWAT Soldier (Animaze Dub)
 * Tales from Earthsea (2006) - King's Guardsman, Additional Voices
 * Redline (2009) - Frisbee

Voice Director

 * Naruto

Writer

 * Bleach
 * Naruto