Ever wonder why Leon Kennedy sounds so genuinely terrified when a giant monster is crushing his windpipe? It’s because the guy behind the mic was actually passing out. No, seriously. Nick Apostolides, the voice of Leon S. Kennedy in the recent Resident Evil remakes, literally choked himself out in the recording booth to make a death rattle sound authentic.
Talk about commitment.
Most people know Leon as the floppy-haired rookie cop who survived Raccoon City only to become a super-agent with a penchant for cheesy one-liners. But the voice behind the character has changed more times than the series’ timeline. From the gravelly tones of the early 2000s to the modern, more vulnerable performance of today, Leon's vocal evolution is basically the history of survival horror itself.
The Man Who Almost Died for Resident Evil 2
Nick Apostolides isn't just an actor for hire. He’s a massive fan who’s been playing the games since 1998. When he landed the role for the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake, he didn’t just want to "do a voice." He wanted it to be visceral.
During one session for the game’s various death animations, Nick had to record the sound of Leon being strangled by the Tyrant (Mr. X). He wasn't happy with the "fake" sounds of struggling. He decided to wrap his own hands around his neck and squeeze while trying to vocalize. He also put water in his throat to simulate a "blood curdle" sound.
He pushed it too far.
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In a panel at Fan Expo, Nick recounted how he actually lost oxygen to his brain and collapsed in the booth. The director, Tom, thought it was just an incredible piece of acting until he saw Nick’s leg twitching and his face turning white. The wild part? Capcom kept the audio. That actual recording of Nick losing consciousness is one of the random death screams you can hear if you get killed by a boss in the game.
Since then, Nick says he does strangulation scenes on his knees. Just in case he hits the floor again.
Why the Leon S. Kennedy Voice Actor Keeps Changing
If you’ve played every game in the series, you know Leon doesn’t always sound the same. Capcom has a habit of swapping actors like they’re changing outfits. Here’s the breakdown of the guys who have defined the character:
- Paul Haddad (Resident Evil 2 - 1998): The OG. He gave Leon that classic, slightly naive "rookie" vibe. Sadly, Haddad passed away in 2020, but not before giving his blessing to the newer actors.
- Paul Mercier (Resident Evil 4, Degeneration): To many, this is the definitive Leon. He brought the "action hero" energy and the iconic "No thanks, bro" sass that made RE4 a legend.
- Matthew Mercer (Resident Evil 6, Damnation, Vendetta): One of the biggest names in voice acting (Critical Role, Overwatch). He played a more weathered, depressed Leon who had seen too much.
- Nick Apostolides (RE2 Remake, RE4 Remake, Infinite Darkness): The current face and voice. He’s brought a layer of "realism" and physical performance capture that the older games couldn't manage.
Capcom’s philosophy for the remakes was pretty blunt. They told Nick to "forget everything" he knew about the previous performances. They didn't want an impression of Paul Mercier or Matt Mercer. They wanted Nick to bring his own personality to a younger, more grounded version of the character.
The Controversies Nobody Talks About
It hasn't all been smooth sailing for the voices of Resident Evil. Recently, the community has been a bit of a minefield. While Nick Apostolides is generally beloved for his fan engagement and transparency, other parts of the cast haven't been so lucky.
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For instance, Lily Gao, the voice of Ada Wong in the Resident Evil 4 remake, faced such intense harassment from "fans" who didn't like her performance that she had to deactivate her social media comments for a while. People complained she sounded too "bored" or "stilted" compared to previous versions. It was a mess.
Then you have the face models. People often confuse the voice actor with the person the character is modeled after. For the remakes, Leon’s face is based on a Romanian model named Eduard Badaluta. Recently, some fans have tried to dig up "controversies" regarding the models' personal social media likes, leading to calls for Capcom to swap them out in future games like Resident Evil Requiem.
Honestly? It's a lot of drama for a guy who just wants to shoot zombies.
How to Get Into Voice Acting Like Nick
Nick Apostolides didn't start at the top. Before he was fighting Las Plagas, he was actually a real estate agent in Boston. He eventually moved to LA to pursue the dream, starting with small roles in indie films and commercials.
His break didn't come from a "voice acting" audition in the traditional sense. It came from motion capture. Because modern games use full-body performance capture, Capcom was looking for someone who could move like a soldier and act with their whole body, not just their vocal cords.
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If you're looking to follow that path, the industry has shifted. It’s no longer just about having a "cool voice." You need:
- Stage acting training: You have to be able to act with your face and body.
- Athleticism: Mo-cap involves a lot of running, crouching, and "dying" on hard mats.
- Vocal health: You need to learn how to scream without actually hurting your throat (unlike Nick’s early mistakes!).
What’s Next for Leon?
With the rumors of Resident Evil 9 and the potential for more remakes, everyone is asking if Nick is staying. Historically, Capcom likes to reboot the "vibe" of their characters every few years. However, Nick has voiced Leon in two major games and a Netflix series now. He's become the most consistent Leon we've ever had.
Matt Mercer famously "passed the torch" to Nick on Twitter after the Death Island movie, signaling that the era of the "Old Leon" voice might be over for now.
If you want to support the craft, the best thing you can do is check out the behind-the-scenes footage of the mo-cap sessions. Seeing a grown man in a velcro suit with balls all over it pretending to fight an invisible monster is hilarious, but it also shows you just how much work goes into a three-second cutscene.
Your Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the credits of the next Capcom project. If you're a fan of the performance, follow the actors on social media—many of them, like Nick, do live streams where they play the games they starred in. It's a great way to see the "human" side of the pixels. Also, if you're an aspiring actor, look into local motion capture workshops; it's the fastest-growing sector of the industry right now.