You know that feeling when you hear a voice in an anime and think, "I know that guy," but the credits say it’s someone you’ve never heard of? That was the collective experience of the Dragon Ball Super fandom for years. When the Future Trunks Saga hit the English dub, a character named Zamasu showed up with a voice so refined, so arrogant, and so... familiar.
The credits listed a man named David Gray. Except, David Gray didn’t really exist. Not in the way we thought.
The Mystery of David Gray
It turns out that James Marsters is the Zamasu English voice actor. Yes, that James Marsters. The man who played Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Brainiac in Smallville.
For a long time, it was one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry. Fans instantly recognized the silk-over-gravel texture of Marsters' voice. But why the fake name? Why the "David Gray" or "Sam Majesters" pseudonyms?
The answer is a mix of boring legal stuff and a surprisingly heartwarming story of personal redemption. Basically, it comes down to union contracts. Marsters is a SAG-AFTRA actor. At the time, Funimation’s Dragon Ball dubs were often non-union. To work on the show without getting in trouble with his union, Marsters had to hide behind a "nom de plume."
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A Shot at Redemption
There’s a deeper layer to this, though. James Marsters didn't just take the role for a paycheck. In fact, he famously revealed in interviews—specifically on the Inside of You podcast with Michael Rosenbaum—that he initially offered to work on the series for free.
Why? Because he felt he owed the fans an apology.
See, back in 2009, Marsters played Lord Piccolo in the live-action disaster Dragonball Evolution. If you’ve seen it, you know. It’s bad. Like, "so bad the creator of the franchise came out of retirement to fix the series" bad. Marsters is actually a huge Dragon Ball fan in real life. He was devastated by how the movie turned out. He felt like he had personally helped break something beloved.
When the chance to play Zamasu in Dragon Ball Super came around, he saw it as his chance to make things right. He wanted to give the fans a "real" performance to replace the memory of the movie.
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The Art of Being an Evil God
Zamasu isn't your typical "I want to blow up the world" villain. He’s a poet. He’s a narcissist. He’s a god who thinks he’s doing the universe a favor by wiping out mortals.
Marsters nailed this.
Most anime dubbing is high-energy and, frankly, a bit loud. Marsters took a different route. He played Zamasu with a quiet, Shakespearean intensity. He sounded like someone who truly believed his own hype. When Zamasu rants about the "ugliness" of mortals, Marsters brings a level of genuine disgust to the delivery that makes your skin crawl.
Why the Voice Matters
- Contrast: Most Dragon Ball villains scream. Zamasu purrs. This makes him feel more dangerous because he’s composed.
- Chemistry: His performance had to play off Sean Schemmel’s "Goku Black." While Schemmel went for a more gravelly, menacing version of Goku, Marsters provided the sophisticated "brains" of the duo.
- Fan Reception: Honestly, the fans loved it. It’s widely considered one of the best casting choices in the history of the English dub.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s a common misconception that Marsters was "replaced" or that there are multiple actors for the same version of the character.
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To be clear: James Marsters voices the "standard" Zamasu and the Fused Zamasu. In the video games, like Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 and Dragon Ball FighterZ, he’s still the man behind the mic.
Some people get confused because James Cheek—another talented actor in the Dallas scene—often pops up in similar circles. But Cheek is famous for roles like Hua Cheng in Heaven Official's Blessing, not the rogue Kai. If you’re looking for the voice of the "Zero Mortals Plan," it’s Marsters all the way.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
In the current landscape of voice acting, the "Zamasu situation" changed how fans look at "celebrity" guests in anime. It wasn't just a big name doing a voice for clout. It was a trained, veteran actor treating the material with the same respect he’d give a prestige TV drama.
It also proved that the "union vs. non-union" barrier is thinning. Actors want to play these roles because the characters are actually good. Zamasu isn't just a cartoon; he's a complex psychological study in extremism.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're a fan of the performance and want to dive deeper into the world of voice acting or the character itself, here is what you should do:
- Watch the Interviews: Search for James Marsters’ appearances at Fan Expo Canada or his interview on the Inside of You podcast. He talks extensively about his love for the lore and how he developed the "god" voice.
- Listen to the Games: If you only watched the show, go check out the dialogue in Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO. The intros between Zamasu and other characters are peak Marsters.
- Check the Credits: Next time you see "David Gray" or "Sam Majesters" in an older project, you’ll know exactly who you’re actually listening to.
The story of the Zamasu English voice actor is more than just a trivia fact. It's a story about a fan who got a second chance to treat his favorite franchise with the respect it deserved. Marsters didn't just voice a villain; he redeemed a legacy.