You’ve heard the voice. It’s that smooth, slightly raspy, impossibly confident tone that makes a master thief feel like your best friend. For over two decades, Kevin Miller has been the soul of Sly Cooper. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else holding that iconic cane.
Most people just assume Miller was the first and only choice for the role. He wasn't. The story of how he became the "Master of All Thieves" is actually kind of a fluke—a lucky break for us, but a stressful moment for the developers back in 2002.
The Weird Way Kevin Miller Landed the Role
Before the first game launched, Sucker Punch Productions actually had a different actor in the booth. If you’re a real deep-diver and you still have those old PlayStation underground demo discs, you can actually hear a version of Sly that isn't Kevin Miller. It sounds... different. Not bad, just not Sly.
As Miller tells it, the team was split. Half the devs loved "Actor A," and the other half absolutely hated him. Then they tried "Actor B," and the same thing happened in reverse. Total deadlock.
Kevin Miller was basically everyone’s second choice. He was the compromise. Since nobody hated his take, he got the gig. It’s funny how one of the most iconic performances in gaming history happened because a room full of people couldn't agree on anyone else.
More Than Just a Raccoon
While Kevin Miller is synonymous with Sly, his resume is a wild ride through early 2000s gaming.
- He was in the impossibly stylish Jet Grind Radio (or Jet Set Radio depending on where you lived).
- He voiced Thomas Rogan in The House of the Dead III.
- He even did work for Crazy Taxi and Tales of Eternia.
But let’s be real. The Cooper Gang is where the heart is. Miller didn't just record lines and walk away; he stayed. He voiced Sly in the original trilogy, the 2013 revival Thieves in Time, and even the crossovers like PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.
The Movie That Never Was
There was a dark time around 2014 when a Sly Cooper movie was announced. Fans were hyped—until the trailer dropped. The voice coming out of the raccoon wasn't Kevin Miller; it was Ian James Corlett.
The community went nuclear. It’s rare to see a fanbase so loyal to a voice actor that they’ll actively root against a big-budget movie, but that’s exactly what happened. Miller himself was classy about it, though you could tell it stung. He’s mentioned in interviews (and on his old Gamerland Podcast) that studios often look for "big names" over the original talent when they move to the big screen.
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As it turns out, the movie was eventually scrapped. Some fans call it "the curse of the Cooper," while others are just relieved that if Sly ever returns, there's a better chance Miller will be the one behind the mask.
What is Kevin Miller Doing Now?
He isn't just sitting around waiting for a call from Sony. Miller is incredibly active in the community. If you hop onto Twitch, you’ll often find him under the handle thekevinmiller, playing through the old games and chatting with fans like they’re old buddies.
He’s also moved into:
- Directing and Casting: Helping other actors find their feet in the industry.
- Writing: He's done localization writing for SEGA and even worked on live shows for Nickelodeon and Disney.
- Coaching: He actually teaches voice acting classes.
The Truth About Sly 5
Every time Miller does an interview, someone asks about Sly 5. It’s been years since the cliffhanger ending of Thieves in Time left Sly stranded in Ancient Egypt.
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Miller has been pretty transparent about this: he wants to do it. He’s even mentioned that Sanzaru Games (the devs of the fourth game) had a whole Egypt level planned as DLC that never happened. But the reality is that the decision belongs to Sony.
Miller recently visited the PlayStation offices, which sent the subreddit into a total tailspin. Was he recording? Was he just visiting friends? We don't know for sure, but the fact that he's still in that orbit gives people hope.
Why He Matters to Gaming History
Voice acting in the early 2000s could be... rough. It was often stiff and melodramatic. Miller brought a "cool" factor to Sly that felt grounded. He played Sly not as a cartoon mascot, but as a guy who really cared about his friends, Bentley and Murray.
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That chemistry is why the series has such legs. When you listen to Miller, you aren't just hearing a script; you're hearing the history of a character who grew up alongside his audience.
Practical Insights for Fans
If you want to keep the spirit of the series alive or learn from the man himself, here is how you can actually engage with the world of Kevin Miller and Sly Cooper today:
- Watch the Streams: Follow him on Twitch. He is one of the few legacy voice actors who regularly interacts with his community in real-time. It’s the best place to get "behind the scenes" stories that haven't been published in major magazines.
- Study the Craft: If you’re an aspiring voice actor, look into his coaching. He focuses on the "improv" side of acting, which he credits for his success in landing the Sly role.
- Support Indie Projects: Miller has been working with indie developers lately on games like PaperKlay. Supporting these smaller titles is a great way to see how he’s evolving his voice beyond the "thief" persona.
- Stay Vocal (Respectfully): Sony monitors social media sentiment. The reason Sly Cooper was recently added to the PS5 Classics catalog is largely due to the persistent noise from fans. Keeping Miller’s name associated with the character ensures that if a remake happens, he’s the one they call.
Miller remains the gold standard for how a voice actor can bridge the gap between "hired talent" and "community pillar." Whether we ever get that trip to Egypt or not, his legacy as the world's most charming raccoon is safely tucked away in the vault.