How Greg Baldwin became the voice successor to a legendary acting icon

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Greg Baldwin is an American voice actor best known for stepping into the roles of the late Mako Iwamatsu. By mastering the vocal nuances of his predecessor, Baldwin became the definitive voice for iconic characters like Uncle Iroh and Aku, bridging the gap between legacy performances and modern animation.

Born on September 13, 1960, Greg Baldwin built an extensive theatrical career before becoming a prominent voice actor. His transition into high-profile animation roles began under difficult circumstances following the death of Mako Iwamatsu. Baldwin first provided brief dialogue for Iroh in the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, mixing his recordings with Iwamatsu's existing material. He eventually took over the role full-time for the final season and The Legend of Korra, while also providing the voice for Aku in the fifth season of Samurai Jack and the 2009 game Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall.

The process of capturing Iwamatsu's unique vocal quality was deeply personal. Baldwin revealed that he studied the cast album of the musical Pacific Overtures, which starred Iwamatsu, to refine his performance. This dedication left a profound impact on Iwamatsu's family; during the recording of the final Samurai Jack episode, Iwamatsu's daughter and grandson were moved to tears upon hearing Baldwin's performance, noting how closely it resembled their relative's voice. Series creator Genndy Tartakovsky noted that while nobody could truly replace Mako, Baldwin delivered an exceptional performance that honored the character's legacy.

Beyond his work as a voice double, Baldwin has contributed to numerous other projects, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Fallout 4, and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. He also appeared in the live-action film Hail, Caesar! as Dutch Zweistrong. Recently, Baldwin has shifted his focus toward political engagement, expressing interest in running for Governor of New Mexico in 2026 under the White Lotus Party, a name inspired by the secret society from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Currently residing in Albuquerque with his family, Baldwin continues to balance his creative career with his interest in political advocacy outside of the traditional two-party system.

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