Scott Rayow

Scott Rayow, professionally known as Scottie Ray, is an American voice actor born on November 30, 1971, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, renowned for his work in animated series, anime dubs, and video games.^[1] He is best recognized for voicing the villainous Shredder (also known as Oroku Saki and Ch'rell) in the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series and its related media, including Turtles Forever (2009) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (2009).^[1] Additionally, he provided the voice for the stoic duelist Zane Truesdale (also known as Hell Kaiser) throughout Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (2004–2008).^[2] Rayow's career spans multiple studios, including 4Kids Entertainment, NYAV Post, DuArt Film and Video, and Central Park Media, where he contributed to English dubs of anime and Western animation.^[2] Early in his tenure with 4Kids, he joined the Pokémon series during its second season, serving as a regular voice actor through season four and providing additional voices in Pokémon Chronicles, before returning for guest roles such as the Unova Champion Alder in later episodes.^[2] Other notable anime credits include Valgaav in The Slayers franchise, Anubis in Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Movie (2004), and Otaki in Ah! My Goddess (2005).^[3] In video games, he lent his voice to characters like Keith Valentine and Albert Simon in Shadow Hearts (2001), as well as Odin in Thor: The Dark World - The Official Game (2013).^[3] Beyond voice acting, Rayow has credits in visual effects and music departments for various projects.^[1] He maintains affiliations including Buchwald Talent Agency, with his last known credits as of 2023.^[4] His versatile baritone voice has made him a staple in action-oriented and fantasy genres, contributing to over 70 credited roles across television, film, and gaming.^[5]

Early life

Birth and family

Scott Rayow, whose full name is Scott Jason Rayow, was born on November 30, 1971, in Brooklyn, New York, USA.^[1] While some secondary sources, such as fan-maintained wikis, list alternative details including a birthdate of June 4, 1964, and a birthplace of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, these conflict with verified biographical records.^[1] Public information on Rayow's immediate family remains limited, with no documented details available regarding his parents or siblings. He has been married to Deborah Lerman since September 26, 2010.^[1]

Upbringing and influences

Scott Rayow spent his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1970s and 1980s. Specific details about his upbringing and influences are undocumented in available sources.

Professional career

Entry into voice acting

Scott Rayow began his voice acting career in the late 1990s as a freelancer based in New York, where he pursued opportunities in the burgeoning English-dubbed anime scene. He transitioned into voice work through auditions at local post-production facilities, leveraging his regional ties without a formal theater background prominently documented.^[1][3] His professional debut occurred with minor roles providing additional voices in the English dub of Pokémon the Series, starting from season 2 (Adventures on the Orange Islands) through season 4 (Johto League Champions), produced by 4Kids Entertainment.^[5][6][4] Early on, Rayow affiliated with smaller New York-based studios such as DuArt Film and Video, allowing him to build experience in recording sessions for anime projects. He voiced characters including Valgaav and Erulogos in Slayers TRY (English dub released in 2001).^[3][7] Breaking into the voice acting field in the early 2000s presented significant challenges due to its competitiveness, especially in the niche market for anime localization centered in New York, where limited roles favored established talent from theater or commercials. Rayow often credited himself as "Scottie Ray" in these initial projects to appeal to a broader audience and navigate the freelance landscape.^[1][5]

Collaborations with studios

Rayow's most prominent studio collaborations began in the early 2000s with 4Kids Entertainment, where he contributed to English dubs of major animated series from 2003 through the 2010s.^[5] His work with 4Kids included high-profile projects such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, helping to localize these properties for Western audiences through voice performances that supported the studio's adaptation efforts.^[3] This partnership marked a significant phase in his career, leveraging 4Kids' focus on family-oriented anime and Western animation distributions. Earlier and alongside these efforts, Rayow partnered with NYAV Post and Central Park Media on anime localizations during the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[5] For Central Park Media, he provided voices in dubs like Slayers TRY, where he portrayed characters such as Valgaav.^[3] NYAV Post collaborations further expanded his anime portfolio, aligning with the era's growing demand for professional dubbing services in New York-based production houses. Rayow also engaged with DuArt Film and Video for animation projects, including additional voices in MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch during its 2000-2002 run, which utilized DuArt's post-production facilities for claymation-style episodes.^[5] As his career evolved, he shifted toward video game voicing, notably contributing to Shadow Hearts in 2001 through developers Sacnoth and publishers like Atlus, voicing roles such as Albert Simon in this JRPG.^[8] He continued with video game roles into the 2020s, including Harrim in Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018) and Greybor in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021).^[1] These diverse studio ties underscored Rayow's versatility across anime, Western animation, and interactive media.

Production ventures

Scott Rayow Productions, Inc. is a business corporation founded by voice actor Scott Rayow and registered with the New York Department of State on December 3, 2002. The company, assigned document number 2840825, remains active and lists Rayow as its CEO. Initially associated with Brooklyn, New York, as reflected in city tax records from 2013 to 2015, the company's principal address is now in Camas, Washington.^[9][10] Public details regarding the operations and specific projects of Scott Rayow Productions, Inc. are limited, with no widely documented productions or collaborations attributed directly to the company. As an extension of Rayow's expertise in voice acting, the venture underscores his shift toward independent media endeavors, supporting career longevity amid changes in the animation and dubbing industry. This entrepreneurial step has coincided with his ongoing contributions to diverse projects, including the role of Harrim in the 2018 video game Pathfinder: Kingmaker.^[11]

Notable roles

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Scott Rayow provided the voice for Oroku Saki, also known as the Shredder (revealed to be the Utrom criminal Ch'rell in disguise), in the 2003 animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which aired from 2003 to 2009 across seven seasons and 155 episodes. His portrayal established the character as the primary antagonist, leading the Foot Clan in numerous schemes against the Turtles, appearing prominently in story arcs such as the initial battles in season 1 and the extended "Shredder Wars" narrative.^[12] Rayow reprised the role in the 2009 crossover film Turtles Forever, where Shredder interacts with versions from alternate TMNT timelines, and in video games including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007) and TMNT: Smash-Up (2009), extending the character's presence into interactive media. Rayow's interpretation featured a deep, menacing tone that underscored Shredder's ruthless villainy and layered complexity, particularly in depicting his command over the Foot Clan as a disciplined yet fanatical organization blending ninja tradition with alien imperialism.^[13] This vocal style captured the character's dual identity—human facade and monstrous true form—enhancing scenes of strategic manipulation and brutal confrontations. The performance received praise for maintaining fidelity to the Shredder's comic book origins, where the Utrom twist draws from Mirage Comics lore, helping to anchor the series' darker, more serialized tone.^[14] Rayow's consistent delivery as a standout element contributed to the 2003 series' role in revitalizing the TMNT franchise, which had waned post-1990s, by delivering a critically acclaimed adaptation that balanced action, character depth, and comic accuracy to attract both longtime fans and new audiences.^[14][13]

In Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Scott Rayow, credited as Scottie Ray, voiced the character Zane Truesdale (known as Hell Kaiser Ryo in Japanese) in the English dub of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, an anime series produced by 4Kids Entertainment that aired from 2004 to 2008.^[1][15] Zane is depicted as a professional duelist and the top student at Duel Academy's Obelisk Blue dorm, specializing in a Cyber Dragon-themed deck that emphasizes fusion summons and high-attack monsters to overpower opponents.^[16] Rayow's portrayal captures Zane's initial demeanor as a stoic, elite rival to protagonist Jaden Yuki, delivering lines with a measured intensity that underscores the character's disciplined and honorable approach to dueling.^[15] Throughout the series' four seasons, Zane's arc evolves from a formidable antagonist and academic standout in Season 1—where he engages in key duels against Jaden and his brother Syrus, testing their growth—to a tragic anti-hero in later seasons.^[16] In Season 2, Zane adopts the "Hell Kaiser" persona after suffering cardiac damage from over-relying on his Cyber Style dueling technique, leading him to embrace a more ruthless, villainous role as he competes in the Pro League and Society of Light arc, marked by brutal victories and a descent into moral ambiguity.^[17] His storyline highlights intense battles, such as rematches with Jaden that explore themes of legacy and sacrifice, culminating in a redemption arc in Seasons 3 and 4 where Zane confronts his deteriorating health and aids in the fight against the Shadow Riders and Yubel, ultimately seeking atonement through renewed purpose.^[16] Rayow's brooding vocal performance, often modulating to convey escalating desperation and resolve during high-stakes duels, helped solidify Zane's status as a complex figure in the series, contributing to Yu-Gi-Oh! GX's resonance with Western audiences by adding emotional depth to the strategic card-game conflicts.^[5] This role, part of Rayow's collaboration with 4Kids, exemplified his ability to voice authoritative yet vulnerable antagonists in anime dubs.^[1]

Other anime and animation characters

Beyond his prominent roles in flagship series, Scott Rayow provided voices for a range of supporting characters in various anime dubs and animated productions, particularly during the 4Kids Entertainment era, where he contributed to over 20 anime credits showcasing his versatility from menacing fantasy antagonists to minor comedic figures.^[3][18] In the 2001 English dub of the 1990s fantasy series Slayers TRY, Rayow voiced the dragon lord Valgaav, a fierce and vengeful antagonist whose intense delivery highlighted his ability to portray complex villains in high-stakes magical battles. For the 2005 anime Ah! My Goddess, he lent additional voices, including the recurring character Otaki Aoyama, adding depth to ensemble scenes with his adaptable tone in romantic comedy contexts.^[1] Rayow also appeared in the 2005-2006 animated series G.I. Joe: Sigma 6, voicing the character Long Range, a specialized operative in action-oriented episodes that emphasized tactical team dynamics. In the MTV animated series Celebrity Deathmatch during the early 2000s, he provided voices for various celebrities in satirical claymation bouts, demonstrating his range in humorous, exaggerated impersonations.^[1] Additionally, in Pokémon Chronicles, Rayow delivered guest spots such as Silver in episode 18, contributing to spin-off narratives that expanded the Pokémon universe beyond the main series.^[4] More recently, in 2021, Rayow voiced Yukihisa Sanada in the anime series Fena: Pirate Princess.^[19] These diverse roles, often in supporting capacities, underscored Rayow's adaptability across genres, from epic fantasy dubs to fast-paced action animation, helping to establish his reputation as a reliable voice talent in the industry during the 1990s and 2000s.^[20]

Filmography

Anime

Scott Rayow, frequently credited under the pseudonym Scottie Ray, provided voice acting for approximately 24 anime titles, with the majority of his credits occurring between 2000 and 2010 in English dubs produced by studios such as NYAV Post and 4Kids Entertainment.^[3] His anime dubbing credits, listed chronologically by dub release year, include the following:

• Armored Trooper Votoms (TV, 1983 original) as Captain Jean Paul Rochins (credited as Scottie Ray)
• RG Veda (OVA, 1990) as Yasha (credited as Scottie Ray)
• GoShogun: The Time Étranger (OVA, 1998) as Shingo Hojo (credited as Scottie Ray)
• The Irresponsible Captain Tylor (OVA, 1994–1996 originals) as Kurusu, Oscar, Baker (ep. 6), and Kogure (ep. 8) (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Geobreeders: Breakthrough (OVA, 2000) as Yajima (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Harlock Saga (OVA, 1999–2003) as Fafner and Tadashi Daiba (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Now and Then, Here and There (TV, 1999–2000) as Elamba and Sergeant (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Fighting Foodons (TV, 2001) as Narrator (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Ping Pong Club (TV, 2002) as Hoshino and Toshinoko (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (TV, 2002–2003) as Hamana (NYAV Post dub; credited as Scott Ray)
• Tokyo Mew Mew (TV, 2002) as Mark (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny (TV, 2004–2005) as Hamana (NYAV Post dub; credited as Scott Ray)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light (movie, 2004) as Anubis (credited as Scottie Ray)^[21]
• Ah! My Goddess (TV, 2005) as Otaki (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Slayers Try (TV, 2005 dub) as Ancient Dragon, Bald Eagle Dai, Captain Jarlov, Erulogos, Honar, and Valgaav (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (TV, 2006–2008) as Zane Truesdale (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Slayers Revolution (TV, 2008) as Duclis, Bar Patron (ep. 3), Dwarf Assassin (ep. 7), and Uncooperative Person (ep. 3) (credited as Scott Ray)
• Slayers Evolution-R (TV, 2009) as Dilgear (ep. 10) and Villager (ep. 2) (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Mai Mai Miracle (movie, 2009) as Tatsuyoshi's Father (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Bakuman. (TV, 2010) as Aida (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's (TV, 2010) as Devack (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA, 2010–2014) as additional voices (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Psychic School Wars (movie, 2012) as Kyogoku's Familiar (credited as Scottie Ray)
• Fena: Pirate Princess (TV, 2021) as Master Yukihisa (credited as Scottie Ray)
• AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline (TV, 2021) as additional voices (credited as Scottie Ray)

Animation

Scott Rayow, often credited as Scottie Ray, began contributing to Western animation in the early 2000s, primarily in action-oriented series produced by studios like 4Kids Entertainment. His work emphasized villainous and supporting roles in high-profile franchises, with a focus on gravelly, authoritative voices suited to antagonistic characters.^[5] In Celebrity Deathmatch (2000–2002), Rayow provided voices for various celebrity parodies, including John Cusack and Potato Khan in episodes such as "In the Head of Nicky Jr." and "Deathcon 2001." This comedy series, known for its claymation-style depictions of celebrity fights, marked one of his early forays into satirical animation. Rayow provided additional voices and specific roles in Pokémon the Series from 2000 onward, including Alder in the Black & White seasons (2010-2013).^[4] His most prominent role came in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003–2009), where he voiced the iconic villain Oroku Saki / The Shredder across all seasons, including the Utrom Shredder incarnation in later arcs. This performance, spanning over 150 episodes, defined his career in action animation and earned praise for its menacing intensity.^[22][23] From 2005 to 2006, Rayow lent his voice to G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 as Long Range, a sniper character, alongside additional voices in the series' 26-episode run, which reimagined the classic toy line in an anime-influenced but originally Western-produced format.^[24] Rayow reprised his Shredder role in the 2009 special Turtles Forever, voicing multiple versions of the character—including the 1987 and 2003 Shredders, Ch'rell, and Super Shredder—in this crossover anniversary film that bridged TMNT iterations.^[25][5]

Video games

Scott Rayow has lent his voice to a select number of video games, totaling approximately four to six known credits, where he primarily portrayed antagonists or non-player characters (NPCs) in action-adventure and role-playing game (RPG) titles. His gaming roles often bridged his established animation work, particularly through reprisals of characters like Shredder from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, extending narrative continuity from the 2003 animated series into interactive formats.^[26][1] Rayow's video game career began with the RPG Shadow Hearts in 2001, in which he provided voices for Keith Valentine and Albert Simon, contributing to the game's ensemble cast of supporting roles.^[3] He reprised his iconic antagonist role as Shredder (Oroku Saki) in the action-adventure title Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2007), a tie-in to the franchise's animated continuity, voicing the villain alongside rock soldiers in combat sequences. This portrayal continued in the fighting game TMNT: Smash-Up (2009), where Rayow again voiced Shredder as a playable antagonist, emphasizing the character's menacing presence in multiplayer battles.^[27] He also voiced Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (2009).^[28] In a shift toward modern isometric RPGs, Rayow voiced Harrim in Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018), supporting the game's expansive world of NPCs in its fantasy adventure narrative.^[26] Additionally, Rayow voiced Odin in Thor: The Dark World - The Official Game (2013).^[29]