You’ve seen him. Or rather, you’ve heard him. A lot. Honestly, if you’ve picked up a controller or flipped through an animation channel in the last fifteen years, Troy Baker has probably been in your living room. He’s that guy. The one who can go from a gravelly, broken father in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to a cackling, high-pitched clown prince of crime without breaking a sweat.
But here is the thing: most people just associate him with video games. They think "Joel from The Last of Us" and stop there. That is a mistake. Troy Baker movies and tv shows make up a massive, sprawling resume that spans from cult-classic anime to big-budget Marvel blockbusters.
He isn’t just a "voice actor." He’s a chameleon. And his transition from the recording booth to the screen—and back again—is actually kind of wild.
The Batman and Joker Paradox
Let’s talk about the DC of it all. Most actors dream of playing Batman. A few others hope to land the Joker. Troy Baker? He just did both. Often at the same time.
In the 2019 film Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Baker pulled off a feat that seems like a dare. He voiced both Bruce Wayne and the Joker. You can watch that movie and literally not realize it’s the same guy talking to himself. It’s not just about changing the pitch; it’s about the soul of the performance. His Batman is stoic, heavy, and burdened. His Joker is a manic, operatic nightmare that pays homage to Mark Hamill while carving out its own jagged edge.
He’s been the "Lego Batman" in a dozen projects like Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League. He’s been the Joker in Batman: Assault on Arkham and The Long Halloween. Basically, if there’s a cape or a purple suit involved in an animated project, there is a 50% chance Baker is involved.
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Why his "Small" TV Roles are Actually Huge
A lot of people miss his work in Western animation because he blends in so well. Have you seen Avengers Assemble? He’s Hawkeye. For years, he was the definitive voice of Clint Barton for a whole generation of kids. He also played Loki in the same universe.
It’s easy to overlook guest spots, but Baker shows up in everything.
- Regular Show: He’s been multiple characters, including the Video Game Wizard.
- Amphibia: He voiced Captain Grime’s robot, Cloak-Bot.
- Love, Death & Robots: He’s in the "Bad Travelling" episode (directed by David Fincher, no big deal).
- The Legend of Vox Machina: He shows up as Syldor Vessar.
He has this weird ability to disappear into a role. You don't hear "Troy Baker playing a knight." You just hear a knight. That is the mark of a pro.
The Anime Roots Nobody Talks About
Before he was the king of AAA gaming, Baker was grinding in the world of anime dubbing. This is where he sharpened the tools. If you grew up on Toonami, you know his voice even if you didn't know his name.
Think about Naruto: Shippuden. He was Yamato. He was also Pain. Those are two completely different energies. One is a disciplined, slightly creepy mentor; the other is a god-complex nihilist with a voice that sounds like it’s vibrating through the floor.
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He was Greed in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He was Jin Kariya in Bleach. He even voiced Baki in the more recent Baki series on Netflix. He’s mentioned in interviews that anime taught him how to match "lip flaps"—the timing of the animation—which is basically the Olympic training of voice acting. It's why his performance in games feels so naturalistic now.
Transitioning to Live Action
For a long time, fans wondered when he’d make the jump to live-action. We finally saw it in a big way with The Last of Us on HBO.
Pedro Pascal took over the role of Joel (which Troy originated), but the creators gave Troy a meaty, unsettling role as James, a member of a cannibalistic cult. It was a meta-moment for the ages. Seeing the "original Joel" face off against the "new Joel" was a highlight of the season.
He’s also done plenty of motion capture that is basically live-action acting with a digital skin. In Death Stranding, he’s Higgs. That isn't just a voice; that’s his face, his movements, his weird, licking-the-mask energy. It’s a full physical performance.
The 2026 Horizon: What's Next?
As of right now, Baker isn't slowing down. He’s taking on one of the biggest icons in history: Indiana Jones. In the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, he’s stepping into Harrison Ford’s boots.
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It’s a massive risk. People are protective of Indy. But the early footage shows he’s captured that specific "half-confident, half-terrified" growl that Ford made famous.
Beyond that, he’s moving into the director’s chair and creative development. He’s mentioned wanting to build his own worlds rather than just living in others'. He's currently involved in projects like Mouse: P.I. For Hire, which is a total stylistic departure from his usual gritty roles.
Your Troy Baker Watchlist
If you want to see the range of Troy Baker movies and tv shows, don't just stick to the obvious stuff. Try this:
- Watch: Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (for the Batman/Joker dual role).
- Stream: The Last of Us Season 1, Episode 8 (to see him in live-action).
- Binge: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (to hear his "Greed" performance).
- Experience: Love, Death & Robots "Bad Travelling" (for a dark, cinematic turn).
Next time you’re watching a trailer and think, "Wait, is that him?"—it probably is. Start by checking out his guest appearance in The Last of Us on Max to see how he handles the screen without a digital avatar. It’s a masterclass in being a "character actor" in the truest sense of the word.
Whatever he does next, whether it’s a Pixar-style animation or a gritty Netflix drama, he’s already proven he’s the most versatile tool in the Hollywood toolbox. Just don't expect him to sound like the same person twice.