Jim Ward, typically know as James Kevin Ward, was a voice actor and radio host, finest identified for offering the fantastic voice of Ratchet & Clank‘s buffoonish antihero Captain Qwark. It was announced last night (via PushSquare) that he has died at the age of 66.
Jim Ward was perhaps more recently most recognized as a co-host on the nationally syndicated talk radio program, The Stephanie Miller Show, but to video games players it’s virtually definitely Captain Qwark who would first come to thoughts. The hilarious character, all bravado and little expertise, was so deftly carried out by Ward such that he was simply likable sufficient to be each an excellent antagonist, then later a hilariously ineffective ally, throughout a lot of the sequence of video games.
Nonetheless, Ward was recognizable in so many different video games, in addition to his many TV and film roles (particularly as Doug Dimmadome and Chet Ubetcha in Pretty Odd Mother and father). In 1998 he was the voice of Hector LeMans in Grim Fandango, grew to become an everyday in a number of Star Wars video games, appeared as FEAR‘s Rodney Betters, Diablo III‘s Belial, in addition to roles in Steel Gear Strong 3, Batman: Arkham Knight, and BioShock 2, amongst many dozens of others.
Ward had retired in 2021, as a consequence of a mix of precocious Alzheimer’s and an especially critical case of covid-19 that had left him paralyzed for months. After a sluggish restoration from the illness, he had fully misplaced his reminiscence. (Quite splendidly, regardless of this, he apparently would nonetheless carry out voices and entertain his household.) This clearly meant he was unable to reprise his role for 2021’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside, the place he was changed by Scott Whyte, however his voice has continued showing in more moderen video games akin to The Elder Scrolls On-line‘s Gold Road expansion and last year’s remaster of The Factor.
Ward’s demise was publicly introduced by his former radio colleague Stephanie Miller, who quoted from an e-mail despatched to her by Ward’s spouse on December 10. “One of the saddest messages I have ever received,” she started, quoting, “Our wonderful ‘voice deity’ as Steph anointed Jim Ward, passed away today at 10:45AM. Can you let Steph know? Thanks, Janice.”
One of many saddest messages I’ve ever acquired from the wonderful Mrs Jim Ward:
Our fantastic “voice deity” as Steph anointed Jim Ward, handed away right now at 10:45AM. Are you able to let Steph know? Thanks, Janice— Stephanie Miller (@StephMillerShow) December 10, 2025
RIP Jim Ward. We want all one of the best to his surviving household and pals.
