John Rafter Lee
Birth placeEngland
OccupationActor, narrator, playwright, producer
Years active1992–present

John Rafter Lee is an English actor, narrator, playwright and producer.

Biography

Lee was born in England with Irish ancestry.[1] His father worked as a carpenter and other men in his family were blacksmiths, brick layers and plumbers.[1] Lee himself has worked in agriculture, picking fruit, which he considers much more difficult than voice acting.[1]

Career

Lee has narrated hundreds of audiobooks.[1] "His trademark rich, smooth voice with its hint of a growl turns the word into a seduction", according to AudioFile.[1] He has won numerous Audie Awards and AudioFile Earphones Awards, and he was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile in 2009.[1]

In film, he portrayed the mysterious Trevor Goodchild in Peter Chung's Æon Flux. Other voice credits include Meier Link in both Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and Vampire Hunter D, Pavlo Zaitsev in episode 16 of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Jason Wynn in HBO's Spawn animated series, and Aristotle in Reign: The Conqueror. John also had a role as a voice actor playing Cid Bunansa in the video game Final Fantasy XII.

Lee was also the producer and screenwriter for the 2001 film Breathing Hard, in which he played the character John Duggan. His Æon Flux co-star Denise Poirier plays his wife Carol.

He has written the plays Blood and Milk, Hitler's Head, Passchendaele, Clean Souls and Frankincense. He has adapted into English Schiller's Don Carlos, Racine's Britannicus and Grabbe's Jest, Satire, Irony and Deeper Significance. Passchendaele received its first production at the New York Fringe Festival in August 2010.

His latest film, which he wrote and co-produced, is Forfeit, which received its premiere at the 2007 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. He is currently writing a film to be shot in his hometown, Birmingham, England.

Awards and honors

AudioFile named Lee a Golden Voice narrator.[2]

Awards

YearTitleAwardResultRef.
2003The Fifth Sorceress (2002) by Robert NewcombAudie Award for Science FictionFinalist[3]
2004A Death in Vienna (2004) by Daniel SilvaEarphone AwardWinner[4]
2006The Black Tattoo by Sam EnthovenListen Up Award for TeensWinner[5]
Cloud Atlas (2004) by David MitchellAudie Award for Literary Fiction or ClassicsFinalist[6]
The Sea by John BanvilleListen Up Award for FictionWinner[5]
2008Dreaming Void by Peter HamiltonListen Up Award for Science Fiction/FantasyFinalist[7]
The Long Walk by Sławomir RawiczAudie Award for Solo Narration - MaleFinalist[8]
Poe's Children: The New Horror, edited by Peter StrausListen Up Award for Full Cast/Multiple VoicesFinalist[7]
The Solitude of Thomas Cave (2007) by Georgina HardingEarphone AwardWinner[9]
White Fang / Call of the Wild (1906) by Jack LondonAudie Award for ClassicsFinalist[8]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind AdigaEarphone AwardWinner[10]
Listen Up Award for FictionFinalist[7]
2009The Count of Monte Cristo(1846) by Alexandre DumasEarphone AwardWinner[11]
Audie Award for ClassicFinalist[11][12]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - MaleWinner[11][12]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind AdigaAudie Award for Literary FictionFinalist[12][10]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - MaleFinalist[12][10]
2010Operation Mincemeat by Ben MacintyreListen Up Award for NonfictionWinner[13]
The Price of Love and Other Stories (1999) by Anne BakerAudie Award for Thriller or SuspenseFinalist[14]
2011Fall of Giants (2010) by Ken FollettAudie Award for FictionFinalist[15]
This Body of Death by Elizabeth GeorgeAudie Award for MysteryFinalist[15]
The Woman in White (1859) by Wilkie CollinsAudie Award for ClassicWinner[15]
2012Double Cross by Ben MacintyreListen Up Award for NonfictionFinalist[16]
2013Dracula (1897) by Bram StokerAudie Award for ClassicFinalist[17]
Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in ProductionWinner[17]
Audie Award for Multi-Voiced PerformanceWinner[17][18]
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat HanhListen Up Award for NonfictionFinalist[19]
2014A Spy Among Friends by Ben MacintyreListen Up Award for NonfictionWinner[20]
2015A Spy Among Friends by Ben MacintyreAudie Award for History or BiographyFinalist[21]
2016Sweetland (2015) by Michael CrummeyAudie Award for Literary Fiction or ClassicsFinalist[22]
2018Darkest Hour (2017) by Anthony McCartenEarphone AwardWinner[23]
Spellmonger, Book 1 by Terry MancourAudie Award for FantasyFinalist[24]
2019Darkest Hour (2017) by Anthony McCartenAudie Award for History or BiographyWinner[25][26]
2020Lovely War (2019) by Julie BerryAudie Award for Young Adult TitleFinalist[27]
The Splendid and the Vile (2020) by Erik LarsonEarphone AwardWinner[28]
2022The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) by Agatha ChristieAudie Award for MysteryFinalist[29]

"Best of" lists

YearTitleListRef.
2004A Death in Vienna by Daniel SilvaAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense[2]
White Fang / Call of the Wild (1906) by Jack LondonAudioFile Best of Classics[2]
2007Midnight over Sanctaphrax by Paul Stewart and Chris RiddellALSC Notable Children's Recordings[30]
2008The Black Tattoo by Sam EnthovenSelected Audiobooks for Young Adults[31]
The Solitude of Thomas Cave (2007) by Georgina HardingAudioFile Best of Fiction[2]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind AdigaAudioFile Best of Fiction[2]
2009The Count of Monte Cristo(1846) by Alexandre DumasAudioFile Best of Classics[2]
2010The Bell Ringers (2010) by Henry PorterAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense[2]
The History of the Medieval World(2010) by Susan Wise BauerAudioFile Best of History & Historical Fiction[2]
The Price of Love and Other Stories (1999) by Anne BakerAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense[2]
The Swan Thieves (2010) by Elizabeth KostovaAudioFile Best of Fiction[2]
2013The Redeemer (2013) by Jo NesbøAudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense[2]
2015The Abyss Beyond Dreams (2014) by Peter F. HamiltonBooklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults[32]
Booklist's Top 10 Adult SF/Fantasy/Horror on Audio[33]
Sweetland (2015) by Michael CrummeyAudioFile Best of Fiction[2]
2016The Hero With A Thousand Faces (1949) by Joseph CampbellAudioFile Best of Nonfiction & Culture[2]
2017Prussian Blue (2017) by Philip KerrBooklist's Audio Stars for Adults[34]
Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults[35]
Booklist's Top 10 Crime Fiction Audiobooks[36]
The Thirst (2017) by Jo Nesbø with Neil Smith (trans.)AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense[2]
2020Lovely War (2019) by Julie BerryAmazing Audiobooks for Young Adults[37]
The Splendid and the Vile (2020) by Erik LarsonAudioFile Best of History & Biography[2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Small KillHit Man
1998Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2Jason WynnVoice
1999Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate BattleJason Wynn
1999George Lucas in LoveRanterShort
1999Princess MononokeVoice
2000Vampire Hunter D: BloodlustMeier LinkVoice[38]
2001Breathing HardJohn DugganAlso writer and producer
2003Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of ImaginationNarratorDocumentary
2007ForfeitWriter and producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Æon FluxTrevor GoodchildVoice, 10 episodes[38]
1997–1999Todd McFarlane's SpawnJason WynnVoice, 17 episodes[38]
2000Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-OhkiAzusa JuraiVoice, Episode: "Here Comes Jurai"
2003Reign: The ConquerorAristotleVoice, 4 episodes
2003Ninja Scroll: The SeriesRenya YagyuVoice[38]
2003–2004Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone ComplexKusunoki, Zaitsef, Security Guard, Yaku Humimari (voices)Voice, 4 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Vampire Hunter DMeier Link[38]
2000Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption
2006Final Fantasy XIICid Bunansa[38]

References

  1. ^ "Spotlight on John Lee". AudioFile. 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "AudioFile Magazine Spotlight on Narrator John Lee". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  3. ^ "2003 Audie Awards". Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  4. ^ "A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  5. ^ Howell, Kevin & Maughan, Shannon (January 1, 2007). "The 2006 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  6. ^ "2006 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  7. ^ Howell, Kevin (January 5, 2009). "The Listen Up Awards: The Best Audios of 2008". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  8. ^ "2008 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  9. ^ "The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  10. ^ "The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  11. ^ "The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  12. ^ "2009 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  13. ^ Sehgal, Parul (January 3, 2011). "The 2010 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  14. ^ "2010 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  15. ^ "2011 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  16. ^ Boretz, Adam (January 4, 2013). "The 2012 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  17. ^ "2013 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  18. ^ Boretz, Adam (May 31, 2013). "BEA 2013: Audible Takes Top Audie Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  19. ^ Boretz, Adam (January 3, 2014). "The 2013 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  20. ^ Coreno, Annie (January 30, 2015). "The 2014 Listen-Up Awards: The Best Audiobooks of the Year". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  21. ^ "2015 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  22. ^ "2016 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  23. ^ "Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  24. ^ "2018 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  25. ^ "2019 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  26. ^ Maher, John (March 5, 2019). "Adeyemi, Turpin Win Top Award at 2019 Audies". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  27. ^ "2020 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  28. ^ "The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson Read by John Lee Erik Larson Note | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  29. ^ "2022 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  30. ^ "2007 Notable Children's Recordings". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 1999-11-30. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  31. ^ "2008 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  32. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults, 2015". Booklist. 2016-01-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  33. ^ Saricks, Joyce (August 2017). "Top 10 Adult SF/Fantasy/Horror on Audio". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  34. ^ Saricks, Joyce (2018-02-28). "Audio Stars for Adults: 2017". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  35. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults, 2017". Booklist. 2018-01-01. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  36. ^ Smith, Candace (2018-05-01). "Top 10 Crime Fiction Audiobooks: 2018". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  37. ^ NGILBERT (2020-01-06). "2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  38. ^ "John Rafter Lee (visual voices guide)" (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information). Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 24 April 2021.