Formerly, Michael Townley, De Santa is a man past his prime. He used to run with Brad and Trevor, back in the day, but after a botched job Michael ended up in witness protection.
Well, that’s the story, the truth is that the whole thing was a set-up – a ruse to so Michael could get out of the game, with his wife, at the cost of Trevor and Brad.
Apparently, there is no honour among thieves.
Now he is 56, living the “good life” in San Andreas with a family that hates him and a whole lotta therapy. Living the American dream.
That is until newbie gangster, Franklin, and supposedly dead, ex-partner, Trevor, come barreling into his life. The new gang go into freefall as they are thrust into the centre of criminal enterprise and begin pulling off the most daring heists in the business.
Michael De Santa’s GTA 5 voice actor is Ned Luke, a performer who has worked in TV, film, and commercially since the 1990s. While he has been a part of multiple well-known projects, his role as a GTA 5 voice actor is far and away the biggest name.
As the first step in his voice acting career, you can’t get a better starting place than Rockstar’s flagship franchise. Ned Luke brings the perfect blend of jaded cynicism and sarcastic tone to Michael – showing off the character for the depressed misanthrope that he is.
He also provided mo-cap and was the model for Michael De Santa’s in-game character model. The added authenticity of the performance is able to shine through thanks to these details.