Jim Ward, the American voice actor best known for playing Captain Copernicus Qwark in the Ratchet & Clank series, has died at age 66.
Ward had been dealing with health problems for several years before his death. He retired from voice acting following these complications, with his final credited role being Ranger in Quake Champions.
His most recognizable work came as the voice of Captain Qwark, the vain and cowardly superhero who appeared throughout Insomniac Games‘ flagship franchise. Ward voiced the character from the original PlayStation 2 game through multiple sequels spanning nearly 20 years.
The role defined much of Ratchet & Clank‘s comedic identity. Qwark evolved from self-absorbed villain to bumbling ally across the series, with Ward’s bombastic delivery making the character a fan favorite. He did not return to voice Qwark in 2021’s Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, with Scott Whyte taking over the role.
Beyond Ratchet & Clank, Ward built an extensive resume across major gaming franchises. He voiced Jack Krauser in the original Resident Evil 4, Doktor in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and scientist Aleksandr Granin in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.
Other notable game roles included Dr. Klein in Fallout: New Vegas‘ Old World Blues DLC, Tybalt Leftpaw in Guild Wars 2, and Mannimarco in The Elder Scrolls Online. He also appeared in Grim Fandango as main antagonist Hector LeMans and voiced multiple characters in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.
Ward’s voice acting career extended into animation, where he voiced Doug Dimmadome and news anchor Chet Ubetcha in Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents. Both characters became recurring fixtures in the show.
A career defined by range
His work showed just how much range he had, shifting between broad comedy, military hardliners, mad scientists, and intimidating villains. As it so often goes, it was only after his death that many fans realized that so many of the characters they loved growing up were all played by the same person.
Ward spent decades as a working voice actor in games, animation, and commercials. His style leaned toward larger-than-life performances, whether playing pompous heroes, unhinged scientists, or serious antagonists.
