The rise of Ben Starr, from 3 games before Final Fantasy 16 to 14 after

It feels like Ben Starr is on his way to becoming the new Troy Baker as he seems to be in everything these days. Basically, if there's a new game coming out, chances are higher than ever that Starr… stars in it. Known for his gravelly register, brooding tone and emotional intensity and range, it's easy to see why the actor has risen to such prominence of late, starting with his breakthrough role as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16. From the title of the latest main series Final Fantasy Entry (just launched in 2023, by the way), Starr has already landed 14 other roles and counting, making him one of the gaming industry's most recognizable voice talents.

However, success was not always as easy for the actor as his previous career Final Fantasy 16 only lasted three games and his roles in those games weren't the main thing he's able to get so effortlessly today. If nothing else, it says something about his performance as Clive Rosfield – the protagonist of which there are so many Final Fantasy fans have since considered it one of the best of the series. Clearly, this role fundamentally changed the kinds of opportunities that came his way and continue to come his way.

Why Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy 16 deserves to be a companion in Kingdom Hearts 4

Auron's addition in Kingdom Hearts 2 was well received, and the main star of Final Fantasy 16 could give Kingdom Hearts 4 similar popularity.

Before Final Fantasy 16, Ben Starr was still waiting for his Breakout

Final Fantasy 16 may have ended up being Ben Starr's breakout role in the games, but everyone starts somewhere. For Starr, this meant taking on an occasional role to fill in where extra voices were needed, rather than committing to a more demanding role. This is largely because the actor primarily worked in television instead of games early in his career. His biggest role at the time was Captain James Hawdon Dickensian and Dr. Christopher Priestley v Jamestownboth recurring. Before and between filming these shows, Starr also contributed to several video games.

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Ben Starr's three roles before Final Fantasy 16

Company of Heroes 2 (2013) – More Voices
Quantum break (2016) – More Voices
The way out (2018) – More Voices

Since Starr has had recurring roles in the television industry and has landed many more on various television shows, it was apparently not as difficult to find work as his small acting resume makes it seem. More or less, it was a choice that the actor seems to have made on purpose as he probably focused on other priorities. However, despite trying to control the direction his career would take, Square Enix and Final Fantasy 16 he had other plans for Starr when he landed a role he didn't even apply for.

Ben Starr originally auditioned for a much smaller role in Final Fantasy 16

It's hard to forget someone like that Final Fantasy 16is Clive Rosfield. He's kind without being boring, so genuine that he feels like a real person, and has one of the deepest and most memorable character arcs of any protagonist in Final Fantasy history. Ben Starr's flawless performance is a big part of why it's so memorable. His voice gave Clive emotional credibility, his range and register allowing the quiet moments to land as well as the explosive ones, and his authentic delivery made the character's personality and emotions palpable. However, as it turns out, the actor wasn't always the plan when it came to Clive, and it certainly wasn't the plan for Starr himself.

Despite trying to control what direction his career would take, Square Enix and Final Fantasy 16 he had other plans for Starr when he landed a role he didn't even apply for.

In an interview with DLBTAP, Starr specifically said he went to read for “a very small part.” Final Fantasy 16only to end up reading something completely different. Just four days later, he was informed that he had won the role of Clive Rosfield –Final Fantasy 16the main protagonist. “When I was actually in the room,” Starr explained, “they said, 'Can you read for anything else?' I ended up getting those lines blind, and it ended up being the main part.”

Ben Starr rose to stardom after Final Fantasy 16

It probably felt like an accident to the actor at the time, but it ended up being the one thing that made his gaming career take off faster than he probably ever imagined. From his show-stealing performance in Final Fantasy 16Ben Starr has become one of the most recognizable names and voices in the industry, now appearing in a whopping 14 more titles and not done yet.

Ben Starr's fourteen roles after Final Fantasy 16

Arknights (2023) – Sharp
Fallen Atlas (2024) – Glove Wearer (Male)
War Frame: 1999 (2024) – Arthur Nightingale
Tekken 8 (2024) – Clive Rosfield
Hades 2 (2025) – Prometheus
First Berserker: Khazan (2025) – Khazan
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (2025) – Verso
Date everything! (2025) – Dorian
Dead Take (2025) – Vinny Monroe
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (2025) – Count Dycedarg Beoulve
Marathon (2026) – Durandal
Earth must die (2026) – Enforcer Krall
Fortnite (2026) – The Visitor
Solasta 2 (2026 Early Access) – Rickard Colwall

Of course, his biggest roles came at least a year after the release Final Fantasy 16when developers began to discover Starr's success and hear his voice with their own ears. What followed was less of a gradual rise and more of a sudden, meteoric rise as studios began casting him in some of the game's biggest roles. Characters like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33is Verso, First Berserker: Khazanis Khazan and Hades 2's Prometheus are the central characters of their respective stories, each requiring the same emotional depth that made Clive stand out. In that sense, Starr's rise is built on trust as the developers believe he can and will do it, which is a very different position than the one he held before 2023.

From his show-stealing performance in Final Fantasy 16Ben Starr has become one of the most recognizable names and voices in the industry, now appearing in a whopping 14 more titles and not done yet.

Before Final Fantasy 16Ben Starr's work in games has been limited and largely unnoticed, but now he's consistently cast in roles that are at the center of the story rather than on the fringes. This kind of growth usually takes years to develop, but for Starr it happened almost immediately after one defining performance. It's a rare kind of breakthrough, and one that makes it clear that his presence in the industry will be something that will only continue to grow.