Christopher Owen Ayres (May 16, 1965 – October 18, 2021) was an American actor, director and scriptwriter. He worked on voice acting and ADR directing on a number of English dubs of Japanese anime shows. In anime, he was best known as the voice of Kei Kurono from Gantz, Frieza from Dragon Ball Z Kai and Dragon Ball Super, Prince Soma from Black Butler, and Shingen Takeda from the Sengoku Basara series. He was also known for Mock Combat for Cosplay panels at anime conventions.
Early life and career
Ayres was born in Richmond, Virginia on May 16, 1965. He had his first professional acting gig in a commercial for Lollipop Soft Drinks in Richmond, Virginia, when he was six years old. The Ayres family moved to the Alief, Houston, area of Houston, Texas, when he was 12, where Chris attended Alief Middle School, and then Alief Elsik High School. He graduated in 1983. After graduating high school Ayres attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, and studied theatre until 1985. He returned to Houston and continued to study theatre at the University of Houston. Prior to his voice acting and ADR directing career, he was well known as a stage director, choreographer, and fight director in the Houston Theatre community.
Personal life and death
In November 2017, Ayres was diagnosed with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and required a double lung transplant to survive. A YouCaring fundraiser was created that sought $25,000 to assist with medical care and procedures.
Ayres died on October 18, 2021, at the age of 56, following years of complications from pulmonary disease. His death was announced on Twitter the following day by his partner and fellow voice actress, Krystal LaPorte.
Filmography
Anime
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Saint Seiya | Ushio | ADV dub | |
| 2004 | Kino's Journey | Bartender | ||
| Bast of Syndrome | Dr. Pluto | |||
| Mezzo DSA | Motoharu, Taneri, Baba, Hanamura | |||
| Sister Princess | Islander | |||
| 2005 | A Tree of Palme | Sawadust | ||
| Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu | Atsunobu Hayashimizu | |||
| Gantz | Kei Kurono | |||
| Godannar | Tetsuya Kouji | |||
| Initial D | Miki | Funimation dub | ||
| Maburaho | Yukihiko Nakamaru | |||
| Yugo the Negotiator | Yusef Ali Mesa | |||
| 2006 | Diamond Daydreams | Kenji Kurata | ||
| Macross | Lin Kaifun | ADV dub | ||
| Nanaka 6/17 | Jinpachi Arashiyama | |||
| Papuwa | Oshodani | |||
| Speed Grapher | Suitengu | |||
| Nerima Daikon Brothers | ADR director | |||
| 2008–2009 | Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch | ADR director unreleased English Dub | ||
| 2009 | Fairy Tail | Duke Everlue | ||
| 2010 | Sengoku Basara | Shigen Takeda | ||
| Black Butler | Soma Asman Kadar | |||
| Dragon Ball Z Kai | Frieza | |||
| Golgo 13 | Dave McCartney | |||
| Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story | Elder | |||
| Tears to Tiara | Arthur, Pwyll | |||
| Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt | Corset | |||
| 2011 | Clannad After Story | Sudou, Kinoshita, various characters | ||
| 2013 | Another | Yosuke Sakakibara | ||
| Kokoro Connect | Inari's brother | |||
| 2016 | Hanayamata | Additional voices | ADR director | |
| 2017–2019 | Dragon Ball Super | Frieza |
Films
| Year | Series | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Mardock Scramble: The First Compression | Welldone the Pussyhand | ||
| 2012 | Gintama: The Movie | Kamui, Taizo Hasegawa, Tatsuma Sakamoto, Ner | ||
| Sengoku Basara: The Last Party | Shingen Takeda | |||
| 2015 | Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' | Frieza | ||
| 2018 | Dragon Ball Super: Broly | Final film role | ||
| 2021 | The Dog Park: Prank Calls | Caller #1 | Short; Final role |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Last Remnant | Wagram | ||
| 2010–2018 | Dragon Ball series | Frieza |
Theater credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–1991 | Peter Pan | Slightly, John Darling (understudy) | Tour | |
| 1990–1991 | Slightly, John Darling (understudy) | Broadway - Lunt-Fontanne Theatre | ||
| 1991–1992 | Slightly, John Darling (understudy) | Broadway - Minskoff Theatre | ||
| 1999 | The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Director and Choreographer
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
||
| The All Night Strut
A review of 30's and 40's music |
Director
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
|||
| 2000 | Gypsy | Choreographer
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
||
| And the World Goes 'Round | Director
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX | |||
| 2001 | Hair | Director and Choreographer
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
||
| Man of La Mancha | ||||
| 2002 | Cabaret | |||
| 2003 | A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum | |||
| 2004 | Romeo and Juliet | Fight Choreographer
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
||
| The Pirates of Penzance | Director and Choreographer
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
|||
| 2005 | Noises Off | Director
Country Playhouse, Houston, TX |
||
| The Rocky Horror Show | Director, Choreographer and Fight Choreographer
Playhouse 90, Rosenberg, TX |
|||
| You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Director and Choreographer
Playhouse 90, Rosenberg, TX |
