Jay Klaitz, best known for his iconic portrayal of Lester Crest in GTA 5 and GTA Online, remains a relatively elusive figure within the gaming community. He rarely makes appearances at conventions or fan events, and interviews with the actor are few and far between. Recently, however, Klaitz sat down for a candid discussion, offering rare insights into his life, his career, and his thoughts on the franchise.
- On-set camaraderie: Klaitz fondly recalls his bond with the core trio—Ned Luke, Shawn Fonteno, and Steven Ogg—as well as his professional respect for Rockstar Games’ VP of Performance Production, Rod Edge.
- GTA 6 status: He clarified that he has no inside knowledge regarding whether any Grand Theft Auto V cast members will reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel.
- Advice for new talent: His biggest takeaway for future stars is to prioritize enjoyment amidst the grind of professional acting. He also cautions them to guard their private lives carefully, referencing the unwanted public scrutiny that his colleague, Ned Luke, has endured.
- Clearing the record: Klaitz officially debunked the long-standing fan theory that he provided the voice for Cal Hampton, noting that the confusion likely stemmed from a superficial visual resemblance.
- Lester’s potential future: If he were to revisit the character, Klaitz envisions a darker, more villainous arc for Lester. He playfully suggests Lester could serve as a “Professor X” figure of the crime world, perhaps aided by an AI partner he is romantically linked to—though he admits he may have slightly glossed over the finer details of Lester’s current story arc.
- Evolving satire: Klaitz expressed skepticism that GTA 6 will lean as heavily into satire as its predecessor did over a decade ago, noting how rapidly the global cultural climate has shifted.
- Florida as a sandbox: As a Florida native, he feels the state is an ideal setting. He highlighted the stark contrast between cities like Miami, Jacksonville, and Orlando, and suggested that an in-game parody of a major theme park would be a brilliant addition.
- Life beyond the screen: Despite his legacy in the series, Klaitz admits he likely won’t be picking up a controller for GTA 6. His focus is currently centered on his family, as he balances life as a devoted father of two.
Source: gta.com.ua