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

John Rafter Lee
Born
Occupations
  • Actor
  • narrator
  • playwright
  • producer

Biography

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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

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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 premier 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

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AudioFile named Lee a Golden Voice narrator.[2]

Awards

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Year Title Award Result Ref.
2003 The Fifth Sorceress (2002) by Robert Newcomb Audie Award for Science Fiction Finalist [3]
2004 A Death in Vienna(2004) by Daniel Silva Earphone Award Winner [4]
2006 The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven Listen Up Award for Teens Winner [5]
Cloud Atlas (2004) by David Mitchell Audie Award for Literary Fiction or Classics Finalist [6]
The Sea by John Banville Listen Up Award for Fiction Winner [5]
2008 Dreaming Void by Peter Hamilton Listen Up Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy Finalist [7]
The Long Walk by Sławomir Rawicz Audie Award for Solo Narration - Male Finalist [8]
Poe's Children: The New Horror, edited by Peter Straus Listen Up Award for Full Cast/Multiple Voices Finalist [7]
The Solitude of Thomas Cave (2007) by Georgina Harding Earphone Award Winner [9]
White Fang / Call of the Wild (1906) by Jack London Audie Award for Classics Finalist [8]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind Adiga Earphone Award Winner [10]
Listen Up Award for Fiction Finalist [7]
2009 The Count of Monte Cristo(1846) by Alexandre Dumas Earphone Award Winner [11]
Audie Award for Classic Finalist [11][12]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - Male Winner [11][12]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind Adiga Audie Award for Literary Fiction Finalist [12][10]
Audie Award for Solo Narration - Male Finalist [12][10]
2010 Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre Listen Up Award for Nonfiction Winner [13]
The Price of Love and Other Stories (1999) by Anne Baker Audie Award for Thriller or Suspense Finalist [14]
2011 Fall of Giants (2010) by Ken Follett Audie Award for Fiction Finalist [15]
This Body of Death by Elizabeth George Audie Award for Mystery Finalist [15]
The Woman in White (1859) by Wilkie Collins Audie Award for Classic Winner [15]
2012 Double Cross by Ben Macintyre Listen Up Award for Nonfiction Finalist [16]
2013 Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker Audie Award for Classic Finalist [17]
Audie Award for Distinguished Achievement in Production Winner [17]
Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance Winner [17][18]
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh Listen Up Award for Nonfiction Finalist [19]
2014 A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre Listen Up Award for Nonfiction Winner [20]
2015 A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre Audie Award for History or Biography Finalist [21]
2016 Sweetland (2015) by Michael Crummey Audie Award for Literary Fiction or Classics Finalist [22]
2018 Darkest Hour (2017) by Anthony McCarten Earphone Award Winner [23]
Spellmonger, Book 1 by Terry Mancour Audie Award for Fantasy Finalist [24]
2019 Darkest Hour (2017) by Anthony McCarten Audie Award for History or Biography Winner [25][26]
2020 Lovely War (2019) by Julie Berry Audie Award for Young Adult Title Finalist [27]
The Splendid and the Vile (2020) by Erik Larson Earphone Award Winner [28]
2022 The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) by Agatha Christie Audie Award for Mystery Finalist [29]

"Best of" lists

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Year Title List Ref.
2004 A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [2]
White Fang / Call of the Wild (1906) by Jack London AudioFile Best of Classics [2]
2007 Midnight over Sanctaphrax by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell ALSC Notable Children's Recordings [30]
2008 The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults [31]
The Solitude of Thomas Cave (2007) by Georgina Harding AudioFile Best of Fiction [2]
The White Tiger (2008) by Aravind Adiga AudioFile Best of Fiction [2]
2009 The Count of Monte Cristo(1846) by Alexandre Dumas AudioFile Best of Classics [2]
2010 The Bell Ringers (2010) by Henry Porter AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [2]
The History of the Medieval World(2010) by Susan Wise Bauer AudioFile Best of History & Historical Fiction [2]
The Price of Love and Other Stories (1999) by Anne Baker AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [2]
The Swan Thieves (2010) by Elizabeth Kostova AudioFile Best of Fiction [2]
2013 The Redeemer (2013) by Jo Nesbø AudioFile Best of Mystery & Suspense [2]
2015 The Abyss Beyond Dreams (2014) by Peter F. Hamilton Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults [32]
Booklist's Top 10 Adult SF/Fantasy/Horror on Audio [33]
Sweetland (2015) by Michael Crummey AudioFile Best of Fiction [2]
2016 The Hero With A Thousand Faces (1949) by Joseph Campbell AudioFile Best of Nonfiction & Culture [2]
2017 Prussian Blue (2017) by Philip Kerr Booklist'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]
2020 Lovely War (2019) by Julie Berry Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults [37]
The Splendid and the Vile (2020) by Erik Larson AudioFile Best of History & Biography [2]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Small Kill Hit Man
1998 Todd McFarlane's Spawn 2 Jason Wynn Voice
1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn 3: The Ultimate Battle Jason Wynn
1999 George Lucas in Love Ranter Short
1999 Princess Mononoke Voice
2000 Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust Meier Link Voice[38]
2001 Breathing Hard John Duggan Also writer and producer
2003 Jules Verne & Walt Disney: Explorers of Imagination Narrator Documentary
2007 Forfeit Writer and producer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 Æon Flux Trevor Goodchild Voice, 10 episodes[38]
1997–1999 Todd McFarlane's Spawn Jason Wynn Voice, 17 episodes[38]
2000 Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki Azusa Jurai Voice, Episode: "Here Comes Jurai"
2003 Reign: The Conqueror Aristotle Voice, 4 episodes
2003 Ninja Scroll: The Series Renya Yagyu Voice
2003–2004 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Kusunoki, Zaitsef, Security Guard, Yaku Humimari (voices) Voice, 4 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Vampire Hunter D Meier Link [38]
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption
2006 Final Fantasy XII Cid Bunansa [38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Spotlight on John Lee". AudioFile. 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "AudioFile Magazine Spotlight on Narrator John Lee". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  3. ^ "2003 Audie Awards". Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  4. ^ "A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  5. ^ a b Howell, Kevin; Maughan, Shannon (1 January 2007). "The 2006 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  6. ^ "2006 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Howell, Kevin (5 January 2009). "The Listen Up Awards: The Best Audios of 2008". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "2008 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  9. ^ "The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d "2009 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  13. ^ Sehgal, Parul (3 January 2011). "The 2010 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  14. ^ "2010 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b c "2011 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  16. ^ Boretz, Adam (4 January 2013). "The 2012 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "2013 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  18. ^ Boretz, Adam (31 May 2013). "BEA 2013: Audible Takes Top Audie Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  19. ^ Boretz, Adam (3 January 2014). "The 2013 Listen-Up Awards". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  20. ^ Coreno, Annie (30 January 2015). "The 2014 Listen-Up Awards: The Best Audiobooks of the Year". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  21. ^ "2015 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  22. ^ "2016 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten Read by John Lee | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  24. ^ "2018 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 30 December 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  25. ^ "2019 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  26. ^ Maher, John (5 March 2019). "Adeyemi, Turpin Win Top Award at 2019 Audies". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  27. ^ "2020 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  28. ^ "The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson Read by John Lee Erik Larson Note | Audiobook Review". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  29. ^ "2022 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  30. ^ "2007 Notable Children's Recordings". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). 30 November 1999. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  31. ^ "2008 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 16 January 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults, 2015". Booklist. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  33. ^ Saricks, Joyce (August 2017). "Top 10 Adult SF/Fantasy/Horror on Audio". Booklist. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  34. ^ Saricks, Joyce (28 February 2018). "Audio Stars for Adults: 2017". Booklist. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Audio for Adults, 2017". Booklist. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  36. ^ Smith, Candace (1 May 2018). "Top 10 Crime Fiction Audiobooks: 2018". Booklist. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  37. ^ NGILBERT (6 January 2020). "2020 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  38. ^ a b c d e "John Rafter Lee (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 24 April 2021. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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