Keith David

Keith David

Known For

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Biography

Keith David Williams (born June 4, 1956) is an American actor. He is mostly known for his bass voice and screen presence in over 400 roles across film, stage, television, and interactive media.

He has starred in such films as The Thing (1982), Platoon (1986), They Live (1988), Dead Presidents(1995), Armageddon (1998), There's Something About Mary (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Pitch Black (2000), Barbershop (2002), Crash (2004), The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), Cloud Atlas (2012), The Nice Guys (2016), Nope (2022), and American Fiction (2023). He starred as Elroy Patashnik in the sixth season of the NBC series Community (2015) and as Bishop James Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama Greenleaf (2016–2020).

His Emmy-winning voice acting career includes narrating Ken Burns films such as The War (2007) and Muhammad Ali (2021). In film, he has voiced Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog (2009) and the Cat in Coraline (2009). On television, he portrayed Goliath in Gargoyles (1994–1997), Al Simmons / Spawn in Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997–1999), The Flame King in Adventure Time (2012–2017), President Andre Curtis in Rick and Morty (2015–) and its upcoming spin-off President Curtis, King Andrias in Amphibia (2020–2022), Dr. Tenma in Pluto (2023), and Husk in Hazbin Hotel (2024–). Video game roles include the Arbiter Thel 'Vadamee in the Halo franchise (2004–2015), Julius Little and himself in the Saints Row series (2006–2017), Captain Anderson in the Mass Effect series (2007–2013), Chaos in Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008), Sergeant Foley in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), and Commander Zavala in Destiny 2: The Final Shape (2024), which he assumed after the death of Lance Reddick in March 2023. He was part of the cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas live concert in October 2025, where he voiced Oogie Boogie, taking over the role from his longtime original voice actor, Ken Page, following his death in September 2024.

In July 2025, David was selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2026.

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Movies Featuring Keith David

Captain Zero: The Movie

Captain Zero: The Movie (2028)

as The Depression Demon (voice)
The Gettysburg Address

The Gettysburg Address (2025)

as Frederick Douglass (voice)
Shelby Oaks

Shelby Oaks (2025)

as Morton Jacobson
Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II

Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II (2025)

as The Depression Demon (voice)
Sneaks

Sneaks (2025)

as O.G. (voice)
Betty & Blue

Betty & Blue (2024)

as Willie 'Blue' Watson
The Prank

The Prank (2024)

as Principal Henderson
American Fiction

American Fiction (2023)

as Willy the Wonker
Heist 88

Heist 88 (2023)

as Buddha Ray
From the Shadows

From the Shadows (2023)

as Dr. Leonard Bertram
Shut Up and Ride

Shut Up and Ride (2022)

as Narrator (voice)
Entergalactic

Entergalactic (2022)

as Mr. Rager (voice)
Nope

Nope (2022)

as Otis Haywood Sr.
In Search of Tomorrow

In Search of Tomorrow (2022)

as Self - Interviewee
Catwoman: Hunted

Catwoman: Hunted (2022)

as Tobias Whale / Morax (voice)
Pups Alone

Pups Alone (2021)

as The Wise Bartender
Insight

Insight (2021)

as Captain Duke
Horizon Line

Horizon Line (2020)

as Freddy Wyman
Good

Good (2020)

as Gregory Devereaux
The 420 Movie

The 420 Movie (2020)

as Chief Ironweed
Cuba's Cancer Hope

Cuba's Cancer Hope (2020)

as Narrator (voice)
21 Bridges

21 Bridges (2019)

as Deputy Chief Spencer
No Image

The '91 Falcons (2017)

as Narrator (voice)
School of Rickey

School of Rickey (2016)

as Self - Narrator (voice)
Range 15

Range 15 (2016)

as Colonel Holloway
Nina

Nina (2016)

as Clifton's Father
The North Star

The North Star (2016)

as Frederick Douglass
Frog Kingdom

Frog Kingdom (2013)

as Frog King (voice)
Free Birds

Free Birds (2013)

as Chief Broadbeak (Voice)
Sons of Liberty

Sons of Liberty (2013)

as Nathan Reynolds
Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas (2012)

as Kupaka / Joe Napier / An-kor Apis / Prescient
The Last Fall

The Last Fall (2012)

as Sydney Bishop
Chain Letter

Chain Letter (2010)

as Det. Jim Crenshaw
Africa's Lost Eden

Africa's Lost Eden (2010)

as Narrator (voice)
Beautiful Loser

Beautiful Loser (2009)

as Morgan - Adult
Gamer

Gamer (2009)

as Agent Keith
Pastor Brown

Pastor Brown (2009)

as Pastor Brown
Blue

Blue (2009)

as Terry Venable
Coraline

Coraline (2009)

as The Cat (voice)
S.I.S.

S.I.S. (2008)

as Joseph Armstrong
The Fifth Commandment

The Fifth Commandment (2008)

as Max 'Coolbreeze' Templeton
Superhero Movie

Superhero Movie (2008)

as The Chief of Police
First Sunday

First Sunday (2008)

as Judge B. Bennet Galloway
Delta Farce

Delta Farce (2007)

as Sgt. Kilgore
ATL

ATL (2006)

as John Garnett
The Oh in Ohio

The Oh in Ohio (2006)

as Coach Popovitch
Dirty

Dirty (2005)

as Captain Spain
Crash

Crash (2005)

as Lt. Dixon
Beef II

Beef II (2004)

as Narrator (voice)
Head of State

Head of State (2003)

as Bernard Cooper
Inside Mecca

Inside Mecca (2003)

as Narrator (voice)
29 Palms

29 Palms (2002)

as The Sheriff
Stalking Leopards

Stalking Leopards (2002)

as Narrator (voice)
Ultimate Fights from the Movies

Ultimate Fights from the Movies (2002)

as Frank (They Live) (archive footage)
Barbershop

Barbershop (2002)

as Lester Wallace
Mark Twain

Mark Twain (2002)

as Narrator (voice)
Pretty When You Cry

Pretty When You Cry (2001)

as Detective Charles Desett
Novocaine

Novocaine (2001)

as Detective Lunt
Semper Fi

Semper Fi (2001)

as Gunnery Sgt. Brinkloff
Where the Heart Is

Where the Heart Is (2000)

as Moses Whitecotten
Pitch Black

Pitch Black (2000)

as Abu 'Imam' al-Walid
Innocents

Innocents (2000)

as Detective Davis
ATF

ATF (1999)

as FBI Director Richard Long
Armageddon

Armageddon (1998)

as General Kimsey
Hercules

Hercules (1997)

as Apollo the Sun God (voice)
Volcano

Volcano (1997)

as Lt. Ed Fox
Flipping

Flipping (1997)

as Leo Richards, Gang Leader
Johns

Johns (1996)

as Homeless John
The Grave

The Grave (1996)

as The Priest
Clockers

Clockers (1995)

as André the Giant
Blue in the Face

Blue in the Face (1995)

as Jackie Robinson
Lions Of Darkness

Lions Of Darkness (1993)

as Narrator (voice)
Nails

Nails (1992)

as Noah Owens
Article 99

Article 99 (1992)

as Luther Jermoe
Final Analysis

Final Analysis (1992)

as Detective Huggins
Men at Work

Men at Work (1990)

as Louis Fedders
Always

Always (1989)

as Powerhouse
They Live

They Live (1988)

as Frank Armitage
Bird

Bird (1988)

as Buster Franklin
Stars & Bars

Stars & Bars (1988)

as Eugene Teagarden
The Whoopee Boys

The Whoopee Boys (1986)

as Washington Square Peddler
Coriolanus

Coriolanus (1979)

as Aedile / Roman Citizen / Volscian Citizen
No Image

The Price for Freedom (N/A)

as Reverend J.W. Bruno