Editing Christopher Judge

{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Christopher Judge
| image         = Chris Judge 2015.jpg
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = Judge in 2015
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = 
| birth_place   = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.<ref name="child"/>
| occupation    = Actor, voice actor
| years_active  = 1990–present 
| spouse        =
| children      = 3, including [[Cameron Judge|Cameron]]
| height        = 6'3"<ref name="child"/>
}}

'''Christopher Judge''' is an American actor. He is best known for playing [[Teal'c]] in the [[Canadian science fiction television|Canadian]]-[[U.S. television science fiction|American]] [[military science fiction]] television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' (1997-2007). He is also the second actor to portray [[Kratos (God of War)|Kratos]] in the ''[[God of War (franchise)|God of War]]'' video game series, playing the role in ''[[God of War (2018 video game)|God of War]]'' (2018) and its sequel ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]'' (2022). He attended the [[University of Oregon]] on a football scholarship and was a [[Pacific-10 Conference]] player.

==Early life==
Judge wanted to be an actor from an early age, and studied drama in high school.<ref name="ultimate">[http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv2.html Ultimate TV Transcript (archived)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306114215/http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv2.html |date=March 6, 2005 }}</ref> "The television set was my babysitter growing up. I can remember wanting to invoke the feelings that I was getting from television—I wanted to be the one who was the catalyst for those feelings in other people. Performing was something I've always known I was going to do."<ref name="child">[http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjstarlog.html Child of the Gods (archived)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014081802/http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjstarlog.html |date=October 14, 2008 }}</ref>  He always knew that sports would be a stepping stone to an acting career.<ref name="tvguide">[http://fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv.html TV Guide Q&A with Christopher Judge (archived)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012021900/http://fortunecity.com/lavendar/eastwood/243/cjtv.html |date=October 12, 2008 }}</ref>

Judge received a scholarship from the [[University of Oregon]] and played [[defensive back]] and [[Safety (gridiron football position)|safety]] for the [[Oregon Ducks football|Ducks]] from 1982 to 1985. He led in kickoff return yardage for 1983-84 and interceptions in 1984, and won the [[Len Casanova|Casanova Award]] in 1982,<ref name="ducks">[http://www.goducks.com/pdf7/40282.pdf Oregon Ducks Football History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208075016/http://www.goducks.com/pdf7/40282.pdf |date=2012-02-08 }}</ref> awarded to the freshman or newcomer of the year. While at Oregon, Judge was a [[Pacific-10 Conference]] Selection in 1984 and played in the 1985 [[Hula Bowl]].<ref name="ducks"/>

Judge won a contest to host a radio show in Oregon, and in his senior year he won a regional contest to host the West Coast FOX KLSR Morning Show,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stargate-sg1-solutions.com/wiki/Christopher_Judge|title=Christopher Judge - StargateWiki|website=www.stargate-sg1-solutions.com}}</ref> an "MTV talk show type thing"; he used this experience to get an agent and move back to Los Angeles.<ref name="scifiint">{{cite web|url=http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/christopher_judge_01.htm|title=Christopher Judge interview - Teal'C Stargate SG-1|website=www.thescifiworld.net}}</ref>

==Career==

===Acting===
[[File:ChristopherJudgeAtConvention.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Judge at the 2008 Armageddon Convention in Christchurch, New Zealand]]
In 1989 Judge began studying at the [[Howard Fine|Howard Fine Studio]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="scifiint"/> His early roles in the 1990s included ''[[Bird on a Wire (film)|Bird on a Wire]]'', ''[[Cadence (film)|Cadence]]'', ''[[Neon Rider]]'' and ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'' with future ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' star [[Richard Dean Anderson]]. In the ensuing years, Judge had small parts in various television shows and films such as ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' (with future ''[[Stargate SG-1|SG-1]]'' director [[Peter DeLuise]]), ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', and ''[[House Party 2]]'', and as a regular on ''[[Sirens (1993 TV series)|Sirens]]'' from 1994 to 1995.

Judge's largest role came in 1997 with ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''. While at a friend's house, he saw his friend's roommate practicing for an audition for the show and was intrigued. While the roommate was away, Judge looked at the audition notes, called his agent, and insisted he get him an audition or lose him as a client.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.series-tv.net/sujet374-chat-christopher-judge.html|title=Christopher Judge Chat|access-date=2009-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612000102/http://www.series-tv.net/sujet374-chat-christopher-judge.html|archive-date=2010-06-12|url-status=dead}}</ref>  At the audition, there were three actors trying out for each of the other principal roles, but eight or ten for the role of [[Teal'c]]. Judge was confident that he had acquired the part when they dismissed everyone who had read for the part except him.<ref name="child"/>

Judge's subsequent work includes guest spots on ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]'', ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'', ''[[The Mentalist]]'', the television film ''Personal Effects'', and the films ''[[Snow Dogs]]'' and ''[[A Dog's Breakfast]]'', the latter written and directed by fellow Stargate actor [[David Hewlett]]. Judge appeared in "Anonymous", the October 26, 2010 episode of ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'', and as one of [[Bane (comics)|Bane]]'s henchmen in the 2012 film ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''.

===Writing===
Judge wrote four [[List of Stargate SG-1 episodes|''Stargate SG-1'' episodes]]: season five's "The Warrior", season six's "The Changeling", season seven's "Birthright", and season eight's "Sacrifices".{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

After ''Stargate SG-1'' was cancelled, Judge began writing a script for a show called ''Rage of Angels'' that would have enabled him to play "the lead in an hour formatted show and prove that a black lead can be commercially viable and sustainable in overseas markets."<ref name="tvcrush">{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/blog/TV_Crush/7536-Stargate_s_Chris_Judge_24_s_Brad_Turner_Partner_for_Rage_of_Angels.php|title=TV Crush Blog}}</ref> The script was marketed as a two-hour, [[backdoor pilot]] with MGM,<ref name="tvcrush"/> but is now apparently with Direct TV and Starz Media.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelshanks-online.com/conventions/2009_vancouver_creation.shtml|title=Michael Shanks - Conventions|website=www.michaelshanks-online.com}}</ref>

===Voice work===
[[File:Christopher Judge - Stand Radio Toulouse - Toulouse Game Show - 2012-12-02- P1500666.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Judge during the Toulouse Game Show in 2012]]
Judge has also done voice acting for animated series and video games, including [[Magneto (Marvel Comics)|Magneto]] on ''[[X-Men: Evolution]]'', and the canceled ''[[Stargate SG-1: The Alliance]]''.

In the season eight episode, "[[Stargate SG-1 season 8#ep160|Avatar]]", Teal'c informs SG-1 that he plays ''[[Def Jam Vendetta]]'', alluding to the fact that Judge had provided the voice of D-Mob, the main antagonist in that game. He once again appeared as D-Mob in the sequel, ''[[Def Jam: Fight for NY]]''. He voiced Jericho in ''[[Turok (2008 video game)|Turok]]''.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Judge provided the voice of [[Zodak]] on the 2002 ''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002 TV series)|He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]'' cartoon as well as Coach Grey in the [[Action Man (2000 TV series)|Action Man]] CGI series from 2000.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

On June 14, 2016, Judge confirmed he was the voice actor for [[Kratos (God of War)|Kratos]] in the 2018 ''[[God of War (2018 video game)|God of War]]'', replacing longtime voice actor [[Terrence C. Carson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-god-of-war-does-not-feature-original-kratos-vo/1100-6440925/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0a|title=New God of War Does Not Feature Original Kratos Voice Actor|date=June 15, 2016|last=Paget|first=Mat|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|work=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> He reprised the role in ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/22702105/god-of-war-ragnarok-christopher-judge-kratos-actor-injury-delay |title=Kratos actor says God of War Ragnarok was delayed due to his health |last=Gilliam |first=Ryan |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |date=September 30, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Judge is involved with the [[Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada]] and is an avid golfer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.starland.com/sf-sc/sc99/Christopher_Judge.html |title=Christopher Judge |website=Starland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201153952/http://www.starland.com/sf-sc/sc99/Christopher_Judge.html |archive-date=2008-12-01 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |via=www.starland.com}}</ref>

His son, [[Cameron Judge|Cameron]], is a professional [[Canadian football]] [[linebacker]] for the [[Calgary Stampeders]]; Cameron played [[college football]] for [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] and was drafted 2nd overall in the [[2017 CFL Draft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/draft/amateur/2017/ |title=2017 CFL Canadian Amateur Draft |website=CFLdb Statistics - The Canadian Football Statistics Database |access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref> His other son, Christopher Jordan, played college football for [[Cal Poly Mustangs football|Cal Poly]] and was drafted 71st overall in the [[2019 CFL Draft]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/draft/amateur/2019/ |title=2019 CFL Canadian Amateur Draft |website=CFLdb Statistics - The Canadian Football Statistics Database |access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref>

According to tweets from Judge, he could not walk in 2019, and he had to undergo surgery to have both his hips replaced, alongside back and knee surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilliam |first=Ryan |date=2021-09-30 |title=Kratos actor says God of War Ragnarok was delayed due to his health |url=https://www.polygon.com/22702105/god-of-war-ragnarok-christopher-judge-kratos-actor-injury-delay |access-date=2022-11-08 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
In 2002, Judge was nominated for a [[Saturn Award]] in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series for his work on ''Stargate SG-1''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0203_generalnews.shtml |title=Stargate takes four Saturn Award nominations |publisher=[[GateWorld]] |date=March 15, 2002 |access-date=2009-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021131230/http://www.gateworld.net/news/archive/0203_generalnews.shtml |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On February 13, 2019 at the [[22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]], Judge accepted the award for [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character|Outstanding Achievement in Character]] for his performance as Kratos in ''[[God of War (2018 video game)|God of War]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2019&idGameAwardType=155|title=Awards Category Details|website=www.interactive.org|access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.interactive.org//awards/22nd_annual_dice_award_winners_revealed.asp|title=22nd Annual D.I.C.E. Award Winners Revealed|website=www.interactive.org|access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref> During 2023's [[26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]], Judge again accepted the award for [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character|Outstanding Achievement in Character]] for the same role in ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2023&idGame=1853 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details God of War Ragnarok |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=8 December 2023}}</ref>

In 2019, Judge was nominated for the [[British Academy Games Award for Performer]] at the [[15th British Academy Games Awards]], but he lost to his co-star [[Jeremy Davies]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/bafta-games-awards-nominations-winners-2019 | title= BAFTA Games Awards nominations 2019 | date = 14 March 2019 | accessdate=  14 March 2019 | work = [[BAFTA]] }}</ref> He was subsequently nominated for and won the [[British Academy Games Award for Performer in a Leading Role|Performer in a Leading Role]] at the [[19th British Academy Games Awards]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bafta.org/games/awards/2023-nominations|title=2023 BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations|publisher=[[BAFTA]]|date=2 March 2023|access-date=2 March 2023}}</ref>

In 2022, Judge won the award for Best Performance at the [[The Game Awards 2022|Game Awards 2022]] for his role in ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]'' as Kratos.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=2023-12-08 |title=Christopher Judge delivers sick burn about CoD's campaign at The Game Awards |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/christopher-judge-burns-cod-at-the-game-awards-ah-another-company-ill-never-work-for/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref>{{Clear}}

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|rowspan="2"|1990
|''[[Bird on a Wire (film)|Bird on a Wire]]''
|Cop at Cafe
|Credited as Doug Judge
|-
|''[[Cadence (film)|Cadence]]''
|Psych. Ward M.P. #1
|Credited as Douglas Judge
|-
|1991
|''[[House Party 2]]''
| Miles
|Credited as D. Christopher Judge
|-
|1997
|''[[Children of the Gods|Stargate: Children of the Gods]]''
|[[Teal'c]]
|[[Direct-to-video]]
|-
|2001
|''Out of Line''
| Alfonso James
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2002
|''[[Snow Dogs]]''
|Dr. Brooks
|
|-
|''[[Romantic Comedy 101]]''
|Nigel
|rowspan=2|[[Television film]]
|-
|2005
|''Personal Effects''
|Nate Wall
|-
|2007
|data-sort-value="Dog's Breakfast, A" | ''[[A Dog's Breakfast]]''
|Chris
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|2008
|''[[Stargate: The Ark of Truth]]''
|rowspan="2"|Teal'c
|rowspan=3|Direct-to-video
|-
|''[[Stargate: Continuum]]''
|-
|''Max Steel: Bio Crisis''
|Jefferson (voice)<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Christopher Judge (visual voices guide) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Christopher-Judge/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |type= A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information}}</ref>
|-
|2010
|''[[Paradox (2010 film)|Paradox]]''
|Captain Papillo
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011
|''[[Dead Space: Aftermath]]''
|Nickolas Kuttner
|Voice; direct-to-video<ref name="btva" />
|-
|''Rehab''
|Charles
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2012
|data-sort-value="Dark Knight Rises, The" | ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]''
|Mercenary Assassin
|
|-
|''[[Clash of the Empires]]''
|Amthar
|Direct-to-video
|-
|2013
|''Smokin'''
|Jim
|Short
|-
|rowspan="10"|2014
|''[[Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark]]''
|Jack Turner
|
|-
|data-sort-value="Tiger's Tail, A" | ''A Tiger's Tail''
|Joe Camp
|
|-
|''Knock 'em Dead''
|Freddy
|
|-
|''To Have and to Hold''
|Sampson
|
|-
|''Wraith''
|Wraith
|Voice; short
|-
|data-sort-value="Underground Railroad, The" | ''The Underground Railroad''
|Bear
|
|-
|''[[Reaper (film)|Reaper]]''
|Officer Banks
|
|-
|''LA Apocalypse (Doomed Planet)''
|Lt. Grisham
|
|-
|''Lowlifes''
|Commander Randall
|
|-
|''Nobility''
|Admiral Nev
|
|-
|2015
|''[[Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!]]''
|Secret Service Agent
|
|-
|2015
|''Lord of the Elves''
|Anthar Master of the Hunt
|
|-
|2018
|''Minutes to Midnight''
|Ranger Taso
|
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|rowspan="4"|1990
|''[[Neon Rider]]''
|
|
|-
|''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]''
|Deron
|Episode: "Live and Learn", credited as Doug Judge
|-
|''[[21 Jump Street]]''
|Man in Queue
|Episode: "Unfinished Business", uncredited
|-
|''[[Booker (TV series)|Booker]]''
|Jones/Mover
|2 episodes
|-
|1994–1995
|''[[Sirens (1993 TV series)|Sirens]]''
|Off. Richard Stiles
|Recurring role, season 2 (22 episodes); credited as D. Christopher Judge
|-
|1995
|data-sort-value="Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" | ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]''
|Workman
|Episode: "There's the Rub: Part 2", credited as D. Christopher Judge
|-
|1997–2007
|''[[Stargate SG-1]]''
|[[Teal'c]]
|Main role (211 episodes)
|-
|2000
|''[[Adventures from the Book of Virtues]]''
|Plato
|Voice; main role (season 3)<ref name="btva" />
|-
|rowspan="2"|2001
|''[[First Wave (TV series)|First Wave]]''
|Xevallah
|Episode: "Beneath the Black Sky"
|-
|''[[Freedom (TV series)|Freedom]]''
|Doctor Roeg
|Episode: "Mind Game"
|-
|2000–2001
|''[[Action Man (2000 TV series)|Action Man]]''
|Coach Simon Grey
|Voice; recurring role (14 episodes)
|-
|2002
|''[[Just Cause (TV series)|Just Cause]]''
|Reverend Lester Stokes
|Episode: "The Wives of Christmas Past"
|-
|2002–2003
|''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]''
|Hector-Resolution of Hector/Achilles Avatar
|3 episodes
|-
|2000–2003
|''[[X-Men: Evolution]]''
|[[Magneto in other media#X-Men: Evolution|Magneto]]
|Voice; recurring role (20 episodes)
|-
|2003–2004
|''[[He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002 TV series)|He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]''
|Zodak, Zeelahr
|Voice, 4 episodes; credited as Chris Judge<ref name="btva" />
|-
|2007–2008
|''[[Stargate: Atlantis]]''
|[[Teal'c]]
|2 episodes
|-
|2010
|''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]''
|Assan Refiq
|Episode: "Anonymous"
|-
|2012
|data-sort-value="Mentalist, The" | ''[[The Mentalist]]''
|Dante Holmes
|Episode: "Pink Champagne on Ice"
|-
|2015
|''Chainsaw Sally: The Animated Series''
|The Baron
|Voice
|-
|2017
|''[[Wacky Races (2017 TV series)|Wacky Races]]''
|Brick Crashman, additional voices
|Voice; main role<ref name="btva" />
|-
|2019–2021
|''[[Final Space]]''
|Oreskis
|Voice, 2 episodes
|-
|2022
|data-sort-value="Guardians of Justice, The" | ''[[The Guardians of Justice]]''
|President Nicholas E. Nukem
|
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|2003
|''[[Def Jam Vendetta]]''
|rowspan="2"|D-Mob<ref name="btva" />
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
|''[[Def Jam Fight for NY]]''
|Credited as Chris Judge
|-
|''[[World of Warcraft]]''
|Additional voices
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Turok (video game)|Turok]]''
|Jericho
|Credited as Chris Judge
|-
|2013
|''[[Stargate SG-1: Unleashed]]''
|Teal'c
|Voice and likeness
|-
|2014
|''[[World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor]]''
| rowspan=2 | Additional voices
|
|-
|2015
|''[[StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void]]''
|
|-
|rowspan=2|2018
|''[[God of War (2018 video game)|God of War]]''
|[[Kratos (God of War)|Kratos]] 
|Voice and motion capture<ref name="btva"/>
|-
|''[[World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth]]''
|Akunda / Gorak Tul / Sunwalker Ordel
|
|-
|2021
|[[Marvel's Avengers (video game)|''Marvel's Avengers'']]
|[[Black Panther (character)|T'Challa / Black Panther]]
|''War for Wakanda'' DLC expansion
|-
|2022
|''[[God of War Ragnarök]]''
| rowspan="2" |Kratos
|Voice and motion capture<ref name="btva" />
|-
|2023
|''[[God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla]]''
|Voice and motion capture; DLC expansion 
|}

===Writing===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Episode !! Notes
|-
|2002
|rowspan="4"|''[[Stargate SG-1]]''
|"The Warrior"
|Season 5, episode 18. Aired in January.
|-
|rowspan="2"|2003
|"The Changeling"
|Season 6, episode 19. Aired in February.
|-
|"[[Birthright (Stargate SG-1)|Birthright]]"
|Season 7, episode 10. Aired in August.
|-
|2004
|"[[Sacrifices (Stargate SG-1)|Sacrifices]]"
|Season 8, episode 09. Aired in September.
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Christopher Judge}}
*{{IMDb name|431895|Christopher Judge}}
*{{Twitter|iamchrisjudge}}

{{British Academy Games Award for Performer}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Judge, Christopher}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate male actors in Canada]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male video game actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Black Canadian male actors]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks football players]]
[[Category:University of Oregon alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:The Game Awards winners]]
[[Category:BAFTA winners (people)]]