James Taylor American voice actor Date of Birth: 22.07.1969 Country: USA

1. James Arnold Taylor: The Voice Behind Obi-Wan Kenobi
2. Early Life and Voiceover Career
3. The Voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Beyond Star Wars: Other Voice Roles
5. Comic Book Heroes and Live-Action Roles
6. Personal Life

James Arnold Taylor: The Voice Behind Obi-Wan Kenobi

James Arnold Taylor, an American voice actor, is best known for his iconic portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the 2003 animated micro-series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and its subsequent 2008 full-length series.

Early Life and Voiceover Career

Born in Santa Barbara, California, Taylor has voiced a wide range of characters in various entertainment industries. He lent his voice to Tidus in the video game "Final Fantasy X," Ratchet in the "Ratchet & Clank" series, and Leonardo in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." He also voiced characters in the satirical animated series "Drawn Together," Captain Jack Sparrow in "Kingdom Hearts II," and several roles in the "Animatrix" anthology. Taylor reprised his role as Tidus in "Dissidia Final Fantasy" and its prequel, "Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy."

The Voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi

Taylor's first association with the Jedi Master came in 2003 when he provided a voice double for Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan in the "new trilogy" of "Star Wars" films. The work was highly secretive, and Taylor himself was unaware of the full extent of the project. In 2008, he returned to the role in the animated "Clone Wars" film and series, and his voice was featured in numerous tie-in video games. Over time, Taylor began to draw inspiration from Alec Guinness's original portrayal of Obi-Wan in the "classic trilogy."

Beyond Star Wars: Other Voice Roles

Despite never appearing in any of the core six "Star Wars" films, Taylor has become the actor with the highest number of portrayals of Obi-Wan, at over four times. In 2011, he became the host of "Star Wars Weekends" and later launched his own show, "Obi-Wan & Beyond," focused on his voice acting work. In 2012, he became the master of ceremonies for a new "Star Wars" fan event in Orlando, Florida.

Taylor has also voiced characters far removed from Obi-Wan, both in time and space, including Fred Flintstone. He has primarily voiced Flintstone in commercials, with occasional cameos in other animated series.

Comic Book Heroes and Live-Action Roles

Taylor has contributed his voice to the Marvel and DC comic book universes, voicing various heroes and villains in video games and animated series based on the comics. While primarily focused on voice acting, Taylor has occasionally appeared on-screen. He played himself in the film "Comic Book: The Movie," made a guest appearance in "Big Time Rush," and had a minor role in the short film "The Audition."

Personal Life

Taylor is married to Allison, and they have a daughter named Lydia, who shares his passion for "Star Wars" and Obi-Wan Kenobi.