There's been a sad discovery recently, with the news the American voice actor and performer Brendan O'Brien (also known as the original voice of Crash Bandicoot) has passed away at 60 years of age.
This information was relayed by Antonblast game developer Tony Grayson on social media. A eulogy has also been posted online, referencing O'Brien's time spent voicing Crash Bandicoot:
"One of his proudest moments was coming up with the original voices for the "Crash Bandicoot" video games during the Naughty Dog years of 1996 to 2004. He encouraged nostalgic Crash fans in their own pursuits and loved signing their memorabilia. Like music, designing character voices for animation, radio and video games came naturally to him."
As highlighted by Destructoid, O'Brien helped shape Crash's personality and character in the earlier years with all sorts of wonderful and wacky sounds (including the famous one-liner "Woah"). His efforts helped transform Naughty Dog's bandicoot into a household name as famous as certain other video game mascots.
On behalf of the team and community here at Nintendo Life, our thoughts go out to Brendan's family, friends and colleagues.
[source destructoid.com]
Comments 21
Having played the games as much as I have, I remember the voice all to well, has I failed, again, and again, it’s etched in my mind, and it added to the wacky bandicoot. R.I.P. he will be missed.
60 is way too young. R.I.P
Beloved voice actor gone too soon.
Ah, the voice of my childhood. I adore the bandicoot, so it’s sad to hear he’s gone. Till we meet again, Brendan
I actually only ever played the Spyro crossover games on the gba when I was younger and a few years ago I played the n sane trilogy and really loved it so it’s pretty sad that this guy passed away. Rip Brendan o brien you will be missed.
RIP good sir. Thank you for your contributions to video games.
Crash Bandicoot was a really big partof my chilldood.The OG Playstation was my first ever console.Became a Nintendo fan only a few years later.But by that point Crash went multi-platform anyway. I still have more fondness for the bandicoot than,as Crash himself called him,plumber boy.
Might be a good time to load up the insane trilogy for another go in tribute. I still need to try crash 4 about time. Was that his voice too or someone else?
very sad "woah"
Oh man, I remember that voice back in the PlayStation days. May he rest in peace.
Rest in peace Mr. O’Brien, and thank you for all your hard work.
@Truegamer79 both n.sane trilogy and Crash 4 have someone else.He was only in the PS1 and GBA games.Think last game that reused his archived recording was wrath of cortex.
RIP good sir, at least he passed away knowing that the Crash Bandicoot series will be in good hands.
@Serpenterror yeah.he didn't die knowing Crash had tribal tatoos and used Aku Aku to control mutants instead of fighting himself.
Sad woah indeed
@Randomname19
Oh i see. Thanks for clearing that up.
Was he also the guy in a suit from the original American commercials?
Rest in Peace, Mr O'Brien.
60 is way too young. Thoughts go to family and friends.
It's really sad to hear also personally since while I've never had a PlayStation there was one at my dentist when I was a kid with the first Crash Bandicoot so my thanks go to Brendan for my childhood memories and all the work he did in general and condolences to his family and friends!
Rest in peace Mr. O'Brien. You helped to make one of the coolest jump and run games of the 90's, making many kids happy.
@Truegamer79 Jess Harnell was the voice of Crash from 2005-2019. Crash 4 onwards has been Scott Whyte.
Noooo. Why? Isn't it too early for the people who crafted 90's gaming culture to be passing away? Why does time have to move so fast? Sad now.
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