The world is short one of the most iconic voices of the video game landscape today as actor Sam A. Mowry, the man behind multiple Dota 2 heros, has passed away. News of his passing was circulated on social media in the early hours of July 23.
Local Oregon paper the Oregon Artswatch reported that he had suffered a cardiac arrest while awaiting surgery. He was 64.
Mowry is best known as the voice of multiple Dota 2 heroes, including Anti-Mage, Beastmaster, Clockwerk, Necrophos, Slardar, and Warlock. But his journey with the game began right at the start of Dota 2’s existence, as he voiced The Shopkeeper in the original Dota 2 Trailer from Gamescom 2011.
However, Mowry lent his voice to dozens of characters across multiple video game titles. His credits include Rhaast from Legends of Runeterra, Arpeggio in Sly Cooper, Alexander in Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Kessler in inFamous, and many more.
Multiple tributes to the departed voice actor were posted to social media. Riot Games shared their condolences on their official Twitter/X page, saying:
“For the voice of a Darkin, Sam was a bastion of light. It was an honor to work with him and he will live on as a part of Runeterra forever.”
Dota 2’s unofficial spokesman and community figurehead Wykrhm Reddy also shared condolences on behalf of Valve.:
“Rest in Peace Sam. Thank you for being the voice of some incredible memory making moments for MILLIONS of people across the world.”
“Whenever a Dota player asks themselves – “What does a hero truly need?” .. it will forever be in your voice.”
Outside of video games, Mowry was reportedly a talented stage actor, which is where his passion seemingly lay. Described as a “formidable” on stage presence, he was a familiar staple of Portland, Oregon’s theatre community.
Mowry is survived by his wife, Cindy McGean, and his son, Atticus Mowry, his sisters Judith Mowry and Jane Galloway, and brother Paul Mowry.
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