Surprise Reveal: GTA 6 Actor Beats Rockstar to the Punch

While Rockstar Games has typically kept the cast of Grand Theft Auto 6 under wraps—despite giving fans several glimpses through official trailers and a Netflix feature—one prominent actor inadvertently confirmed his involvement. However, sharp-eared players likely recognized his distinct voice from the promotional footage right away.

Speaking with AP at the BAFTA TV Tea Party, acclaimed actor Stephen Root addressed ongoing rumors regarding his presence in GTA 6. “Yeah, you’re going to see me in there,” Root confirmed. “I think from the first rollout of GTA [6] that they were doing almost a year ago they had my character in there, and there were too many people who knew me from King of the Hill and my voice.” Having lent his talents to King of the Hill since its inception—voicing both Hank Hill’s neighbor Bill Dauterive and his boss Buck Strickland—he added, “So, I think that secret kind of got divulged then.”

Root, who recently earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Wyck Crawford in Widow’s Bay, remains widely celebrated for his iconic ’90s roles in the television sitcom NewsRadio and the cult-classic film Office Space.

In GTA 6, Root steps into the shoes of Brian Heder. According to Rockstar’s official character profiles, Brian is characterized as a “classic drug runner from the golden age of smuggling” operating out of the Florida Keys. He offers one of the game’s protagonists, Jason, rent-free accommodation at one of his properties—though this arrangement naturally comes with stipulations, requiring Jason to assist with local extortion and shakedowns.

Thirteen years after the landmark launch of GTA 5 in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally on the horizon. Slated for a digital-only release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the upcoming title promises an immersive dive into a modern-day Miami equivalent, complete with unique local phenomena like a virtual nudist camp and a specialized PS5 controller—though the latter is already facing availability hurdles due to aggressive scalping.

Rockstar’s comprehensive Grand Theft Auto 6 preview finally uncovers nearly all its secrets.

Source: Polygon