NED LUKE

Name, Age & Beginnings

Ned Armstrong Luke was born on October 4, 1958, in Danville, Illinois es. As of June 2025, he's 66 years old. Raised by Cindy (née Smith) and Fred Luke, Ned grew alongside four siblings, including brothers BJ, Steven, Matt, and sister Cricket .

Early Career & TV/Film Roles

Ned made his acting debut in 1984 and steadily appeared in both film and television. His first voice role came in 1991, playing Raffles the sheepdog in Rover Dangerfield alongside Rodney Dangerfield . In the ’90s and early 2000s, he guest‑starred on shows like Angel Street, Guiding Light, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: SVU, JAG, and Boardwalk Empire, and he even appeared in The Nutty Professor (1996) . Beyond acting, he also featured in over 100 TV commercials, for brands such as Budweiser, Burger King, and Pepsi .

Breakthrough as Michael De Santa

In 2013, Ned took on the iconic role of Michael De Santa in Rockstar's blockbuster Grand Theft Auto V, providing both voice and motion capture for the character . His performance helped drive the game to become the second highest-grossing video game of all time . He later collaborated again with Rockstar as a motion-capture actor in Red Dead Redemption 2, though his voice lines didn’t make the final cut .

Break, Family, and Return

Feeling burnout from Hollywood, Ned briefly left acting in 2007, returning to Danville with his wife to open a restaurant with his brother . After two years, he moved his family to Ossining, New York, and relaunched his acting career — soon landing the now iconic GTA role .

Personal Life

Ned has been married since November 12, 1997, to Amy Sax, a yoga instructor and part-time actress; the couple lives in Westchester County, NY, and have a son together . Notably, Ned is nearly deaf in his right ear, a condition that subtly influences his performance style – like the way Michael tilts his head in GTA V . In November 2023, a “swatting” incident occurred during a GTA livestream on his YouTube channel, prompting Ned to publicly address online safety concerns .

Legacy & Beyond

With 29 film and TV roles, over 100 commercial appearances, and iconic performances in two major video games, Ned has made a lasting mark across entertainment mediums . He also hosted the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2024, signaling his continued influence in gaming culture .

Ned Luke’s journey—from Midwestern upbringing to Hollywood actor, game‑changer in the world of video games, devoted family man, and even entrepreneurial restaurateur—paints a vivid picture of a multifaceted career and life.