Johnny Yong Bosch

Bosch voices Giyu Tomioka, the reserved Water Hashira, in the English-language adaptation of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" (studio Ufotable). The role joins a deep catalog of leading anime parts that have defined his career as an English dub actor, and it places him among the principal performers of one of the medium's most prominent recent titles. Tomioka's measured, stoic temperament suits the kind of disciplined, intense characters Bosch has often been cast to portray, drawing on the martial focus and dramatic range that have marked his work across animation. For an actor whose résumé is built on protagonists and pivotal swordsmen, the part fits naturally within his established voice-acting identity.

Born John Jay Bosch on January 6, 1976, Bosch landed his first major role as Adam Park, the second Black Ranger in the "Power Rangers" franchise, a breakout that opened the door to further martial arts television and feature film work. He went on to become a prolific voice actor, headlining a string of well-known anime and video game characters. Among his most celebrated performances are Vash the Stampede in "Trigun," Ichigo Kurosaki in "Bleach," Lelouch vi Britannia in "Code Geass," Jonathan Joestar in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," and Orga Itsuka in "Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans." In games he has voiced Yu Narukami and Tohru Adachi in "Persona 4" and Nero in "Devil May Cry."

Bosch was born to a Korean mother and an American father of Irish and German heritage, the second of four children; his father served in the Army and met his mother while stationed in South Korea. He developed an early passion for martial arts, inspired by films and by Bruce Lee, teaching himself at first by imitating moves from Lee and Jackie Chan. He has said that, after being ridiculed in his youth, he became a bully before turning his life around through the study of Kung Fu. Alongside his martial arts training, in which he won several competitions, he also played soccer, and his early grounding in the discipline later fed directly into his work in martial arts television and film.