Khary Payton

Khary Payton
Kevin Paul · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Khary Payton
Birth date	1972-05-16
Birth place	Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Occupation	Actor, voice actor
Years active	1994–present

Khary Payton is an American actor and voice actor known for roles across television, animation, and video games. He has appeared in live-action series and provided voice work for major animated franchises, contributing to popular culture through performances that span superhero, fantasy, and science fiction genres. Payton's career bridges mainstream television dramas, voice ensembles, and convention circuits.

Early life and education

Payton was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and raised in a milieu that exposed him to regional theater and local Virginia arts. He attended secondary school in the Hampton Roads area, where extracurricular programs connected him to community theater and regional drama festivals. Early influences included exposure to performers and productions associated with Broadway touring companies and historical stage adaptations circulating through venues like the Kennedy Center. Payton later relocated to pursue professional opportunities in acting, linking his pathway to gateways such as drama conservatories and casting networks in Los Angeles and New York City.

Career

Payton's on-screen career encompasses guest appearances and recurring roles in television series produced by outlets including AMC (TV network), NBC, FOX, The CW, and HBO. He played characters in genre shows tied to franchises and creators associated with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and adaptations from comic-book imprints. His live-action credits include roles in series connected to producers and directors who have worked on projects with Joss Whedon, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Ridley Scott. Payton's theatrical and independent film work placed him alongside casts from festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and distribution partners including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. He has also guest-starred in procedural dramas with ties to studios like CBS Studios, Warner Bros. Television, and Universal Television.

Voice acting

As a voice actor, Payton has contributed to animated series and video games associated with major developers and studios. He voiced characters in productions produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, and Adult Swim, collaborating with creators linked to Bruce Timm, Genndy Tartakovsky, and Bruce Campbell. Notable animated series credits tie him to adaptations of Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, and other properties from DC Comics, as well as roles in animations connected to Marvel Entertainment properties. In video games, Payton lent his voice to titles published by Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft, and Square Enix, working on franchises interrelated with Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Final Fantasy-style productions. He has participated in motion-capture sessions and ensemble casts alongside voice performers from shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and franchises such as Star Wars and Star Trek. His voice work also connects him to animated features distributed by Sony Pictures Animation and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Personal life

Payton has participated in fan conventions and industry panels associated with San Diego Comic-Con International, New York Comic Con, and regional gatherings such as Dragon Con and Heroes Convention. He supports charitable efforts with organizations similar to Make-A-Wish Foundation and participates in community outreach programs connected to celebrity-driven philanthropic initiatives like those organized with Stand Up To Cancer collaborators. Personal associations include friendships and professional networks with actors and voice artists who have worked on The Walking Dead, Young Justice, and Transformers projects. He maintains residences that facilitate work in entertainment hubs such as Los Angeles and periodic travel to production centers like Atlanta, Georgia.

Filmography

Payton's screen credits span film, television, animation, and video games. His live-action television appearances include episodic roles on series distributed by CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and The CW, and recurring parts on shows produced by AMC (TV network) and FX Networks. In animation, his roles appear in series released by Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Netflix Animation, and Adult Swim. Video game credits include voicing characters in games developed by studios partnered with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft Studios, and Nintendo. He has also been credited in feature films that premiered at Sundance Film Festival and were acquired by distributors such as Lionsgate and Amazon MGM Studios.

Awards and nominations

Payton's performances have been recognized by fan-driven awards and genre-specific organizations, including nominations and wins at conventions and community-voted ceremonies connected to Saturn Awards-adjacent fandoms, animation honors linked to organizations similar to Annie Awards, and gaming awards affiliated with industry events like The Game Awards. He has received acknowledgments from African American entertainment organizations and grassroots awards associated with festivals such as Urbanworld Film Festival and panels at Black History Month events.

Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:American voice actors Category:American television actors