John Swasey
Voice ActorJohn Swasey is an American voice actor and ADR director whose Neon Genesis Evangelion work includes voicing NERV commander Gendo Ikari in the Rebuild film series.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Role
Swasey provides the English-dub voice of NERV commander Gendo Ikari across the four-film Rebuild of Evangelion series, stepping into a role at the center of the franchise's conspiracy plot. His delivery leans into the character's calculated, withholding demeanor as the story reveals Gendo's hidden agenda for humanity. The casting placed a veteran ADR performer in one of the rebooted saga's most pivotal parts.
Career and Notable Roles
Beyond his signature Evangelion part, Swasey has voiced antagonists and authority figures across several long-running franchises. He plays the pirate Sir Crocodile for the English release of One Piece, portrays headmaster Lord Death in Soul Eater, and takes on the alchemist Van Hohenheim for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. His credits also include the villain All For One in My Hero Academia. Away from performing, he directs ADR sessions, writes scripts for dubbed releases, and founded the Anime Dallas convention, first held in 2018.
Related Reading
See all
Naruto vs Luffy: Does the Fight Change if Luffy Tickles Hinata?
Naruto vs Luffy with the twist nobody asked for: Luffy tickled Hinata on date night, and she kind of liked it. We break down the whole fight and commit to a winner....
Namek Has No Women, and Piccolo Pulls Anyway
There are no women on Namek. That isn't an oversight, it's the biology. Why we handed Piccolo the one thing his own species rules out, and why it had to be trap soul....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is John Swasey's most famous role?
Swasey's most notable Evangelion role is NERV commander Gendo Ikari, whom he voices across all four films in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. The part sits at the center of the franchise's long-running conspiracy plot.
What characters does John Swasey voice?
Beyond Evangelion, Swasey voices the pirate Sir Crocodile in One Piece, headmaster Lord Death in Soul Eater, and alchemist Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. He also plays the villain All For One in My Hero Academia.
What is John Swasey doing now?
Swasey continues working as an ADR director and script writer for English-language anime releases. He also founded the Anime Dallas convention, which held its first event in 2018.
How long has John Swasey been working as a voice actor?
Swasey has been active in the anime dubbing industry since 1993, building a career as both a performer and an ADR director. He is an American voice actor known for playing authority figures and villains in long-running franchises.
What kind of performance does John Swasey bring to Gendo Ikari?
Swasey leans into Gendo's calculated, withholding demeanor as the story gradually reveals the NERV commander's hidden agenda for humanity. The casting placed a veteran ADR performer in one of the rebooted saga's most pivotal parts.
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, manga, and official materials. Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Hideaki Anno, published by Kadokawa, and animated by khara and Gainax. All rights to Neon Genesis Evangelion and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byHideaki Anno
- Published byKadokawa
- Animated bykhara
- Animated byGainax
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to khara, Gainax and Kadokawa.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to the game's respective publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: volume covers, credited to Kadokawa and Hideaki Anno.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.
