# David Bateson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/David_Bateson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/David_Bateson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bateson > Source revision: 1350917837 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English actor (born 1960)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Use British English|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = David Bateson | image = BatesonMegaconLive.png | alt = | caption = Bateson in 2026 in costume as [Agent 47](/source/Agent_47) | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|2|09}} | birth_place = [Durban](/source/Durban), South Africa | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1994–present }} '''David Bateson''' (born 9 February 1960) is an English actor who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He is best known for providing the voice of [Agent 47](/source/Agent_47), the protagonist of [IO Interactive](/source/IO_Interactive)'s [stealth game](/source/stealth_game) series ''[Hitman](/source/Hitman_(franchise))'', having played the role since 2000 in each of the franchise's eight main games. ==Early life== David Bateson was born in [Durban](/source/Durban) on 9 February 1960 to his English parents.{{cite web |url=http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/ |title=Agent 47 Speaks! An Interview With David Bateson |publisher=Thegamingliberty.com |date=21 October 2010 |accessdate=30 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822221925/http://thegamingliberty.com/index.php/2010/10/21/agent-47-speaks-an-interview-with-david-bateson/ |archive-date=22 August 2011 |url-status=dead}} He has said that the family moved between South Africa and England at least 13 times and that he attended nine schools overall, which "made [him] a little confused as to [his] identity for a while". ==Career== Bateson landed his first role when he played Hother in the 1994 film ''[Prince of Jutland](/source/Prince_of_Jutland)''.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} He also played the part of a young sailor in the 1996 film ''[Breaking the Waves](/source/Breaking_the_Waves)'', along with the main role in the 2002 short film ''Debutanten''. He also acted alongside [Mads Mikkelsen](/source/Mads_Mikkelsen) in the 1999 short film ''Tom Merritt'', and would again act with Mikkelsen in a 2025 update for ''[Hitman: World of Assassination](/source/Hitman%3A_World_of_Assassination)''.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-07 |title="I got to shag his wife and kill him, so let's see what happens in the game": 26 years before becoming David Bateson's target in Hitman, Mads Mikkelsen worked with the Agent 47 actor on a Danish short film |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/got-shag-wife-kill-him-155724679.html |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}} Bateson's most notable role is that of [Agent 47](/source/Agent_47), the protagonist of [IO Interactive](/source/IO_Interactive)'s [stealth game](/source/stealth_game) series ''[Hitman](/source/Hitman_(franchise))''. He has provided the [voice](/source/voice_acting) and [motion capture](/source/motion_capture_acting) for the character in every entry in the series since 2000.{{cite tweet |user=ImDavidBateson |author=David Bateson |number=610776997791461379 |date=16 June 2015 |title=@Metalchamp1995 yo Mario - yes I am! I'm just relieved to be able to say it out loud. Can't wait}} Bateson landed the role after doing voiceover for another project in the same building that housed IO Interactive's studio for [Hitman: Codename 47](/source/Hitman%3A_Codename_47).{{Cite news |author1=Andy Kelly |date=2021-02-25 |title=David Bateson on 20 years of playing Hitman's Agent 47: 'He's my best friend!' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/david-bateson-on-20-years-of-playing-hitmans-agent-47-hes-my-best-friend/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |work=[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer) |language=en}} Despite bearing an uncanny resemblance, he has refuted the popular belief that Agent 47's physical appearance was based on him, dismissing it as a coincidence.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_4gDUFRvag | title=Hitman Absolution Q&A: The Voice of Agent 47 | website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) | date=27 October 2012 }} Addressing fan backlash following the revelation that he had been replaced without warning by American actor [William Mapother](/source/William_Mapother) for ''[Hitman: Absolution](/source/Hitman%3A_Absolution)'', Bateson revealed that IO Interactive were ignoring his efforts to contact them[http://beefjack.com/news/ioi-cuts-david-bateson-from-absolution/ Beefjack.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311121959/http://beefjack.com/news/ioi-cuts-david-bateson-from-absolution/ |date=11 March 2012 }} and later confirmed on his website that he had been "unceremoniously dropped from the franchise" but was unable to comment further for "legal reasons".{{cite web |url=http://www.davidbateson.dk/ |title=Home |publisher=Davidbateson.dk |accessdate=2014-08-13}} He was rehired for the voice role before the game's release, though Mapother's motion capture work remained intact.{{cite web |work=Cinema Blend |title=David Bateson Returns To Voice Agent 47 in Hitman: Absolution |first=William |last=Usher |date=2012 |url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/David-Bateson-Returns-Voice-Agent-47-Hitman-Absolution-46217.html}}{{cite web |work=[Complex](/source/Complex_(magazine)) |url=http://ca.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/10/hitman-absolution-us-tour-creepy-guy-from-lost-playing-as-agent-47-william-mapother |title="Hitman: Absolution" Goes on US Tour, Creepy Guy From "Lost" is Playing as Agent 47 |first=Michael |last=Rougeau |date=25 October 2012}} Despite the major setback, Bateson said in June 2025 that ''Absolution'' is his favorite game in the Hitman series.{{cite web |last1=Fall Damage |title=Can Agent 47 Remember His Iconic Lines? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuBgzTwXckk |website=YouTube |date=25 June 2025 |access-date=30 June 2025}} Mapother returned for [the subsequent game](/source/Hitman_(2016_video_game)) to voice Dino Bosco, an arrogant Italian actor Agent 47 must kill. Bateson voiced Virgil in the 2020 indie game ''Lightmatter'', his first non-''Hitman'' video game voice role.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-24 |title=Lightmatter - Let's Play Lightmatter: David Bateson - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/994140/view/2853530520490492133 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}} He voiced [Bowser](/source/Bowser) in the Danish [dub](/source/Dubbing) of the 2023 film ''[The Super Mario Bros. Movie](/source/The_Super_Mario_Bros._Movie)'', dubbing [Jack Black](/source/Jack_Black)'s voice.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/agent-47-voice-actor-bowser-in-danish-dub-of-the-super-mario-bros-movie/|title=Agent 47 Is the Voice Actor of Bowser in the Danish Dub of The Super Mario Bros. Movie|first=Joshua|last=Henry|date=8 April 2023|access-date=23 October 2023|website=The Gamer}} He has also worked extensively in Danish television series and narrated various [Lego](/source/Lego) commercials. ==Personal life== Bateson previously lived in Canada,{{cn|date=December 2024}} England, and South Africa; he is now a long-time resident of Denmark, where he is based in [Copenhagen](/source/Copenhagen), holds Danish citizenship, and speaks fluent Danish. He is a member of both the [British](/source/Equity_(British_trade_union)) and [Danish](/source/Danish_Actors'_Association) actors' unions.{{cite web |url=http://www.davidbateson.dk/cv/ |title=Complete CV for David Bateson |publisher=Official website of David Bateson |accessdate=30 August 2012}} ==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1994 || ''[Prince of Jutland](/source/Prince_of_Jutland)'' || Hother || |- |1996 || ''[Breaking the Waves](/source/Breaking_the_Waves)'' || Young Sailor || |- |1999 ||''Tom Merritt'' || Tom Merritt || Short film |- |2000 || ''[Help! I'm a Fish](/source/Help!_I'm_a_Fish)'' ||Commander Shark, General Crab{{cite web |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/David-Bateson/ |title=Behind the Voice Actors – David Bateson |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=12 September 2019}}||Voice |- |2002 || ''One Hell of a Christmas'' || Tommy || |- |2003 || ''[Stealing Rembrandt](/source/Stealing_Rembrandt)'' || Stor Mand || |- |2008 || ''[Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms](/source/Sunshine_Barry_and_the_Disco_Worms)'' || Jimmy, Manager, Nature Speaker||Voice |- |2009 || ''Headhunter'' || Dr. Leipmann || |- |2011 || ''[Freddy Frogface](/source/Freddy_Frogface)'' || Bardini, Blacksmith, Carlo Androkles, Ole Antonioni ||Voice |- |2012 || ''[Ivan the Incredible](/source/Jelly_T)'' || Butcher, Teacher, Grumpy Fisherman||Voice |- |2023 || data-sort-value="Super Mario Bros. Movie, The" | ''[The Super Mario Bros. Movie](/source/The_Super_Mario_Bros._Movie)'' || Bowser{{Cite tweet |number=1644044837568790528 |user=ImDavidBateson |title=This may come as a surprise- but I am Bowzer in the Danish version of the new Super Mario Bros film. Thank you @iyunohq and @NintendoAmerica I'm the Danish #JackBlack Cool! |author=David Bateson |date=2023-04-07 |access-date=2023-04-08}}||Voice, Danish dub |- |} ===Video games=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2000 || ''[Hitman: Codename 47](/source/Hitman%3A_Codename_47)'' || Agent 47 || |- |2002 || ''[Hitman 2: Silent Assassin](/source/Hitman_2%3A_Silent_Assassin)'' || Agent 47, Agent 17 || |- |2004 || ''[Hitman: Contracts](/source/Hitman%3A_Contracts)'' || rowspan="5" | Agent 47 || |- |2006 || ''[Hitman: Blood Money](/source/Hitman%3A_Blood_Money)'' || |- |2012 || ''[Hitman: Absolution](/source/Hitman%3A_Absolution)'' || |- |2016 || ''[Hitman](/source/Hitman_(2016_video_game))'' || |- |2018 || ''[Hitman 2](/source/Hitman_2_(2018_video_game))'' || |- |2020 || ''Lightmatter'' || Virgil{{Cite web |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/994140/Lightmatter/ |title=Lightmatter on Steam |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en |access-date=2019-12-07}} || |- |2021 |''[Hitman 3](/source/Hitman_3)'' |Agent 47 | |} === Television === *''Den Enes Død'' (1994) *''Carl Th. Dreyer: My Métier'' (1995) (documentary) *''Kun en Pige'' (1995) – Korrespondent *''Krystalbarnet'' (1996) *''Spoon River'' (1996) *''Another You'' (1997) *''Midnight Angels'' (1998) *''Daddyfox'' (2000) – Court Police Officer 2 *''Debutanten'' (2002) (short) – Bill *''[Langt fra Las Vegas](/source/Langt_fra_Las_Vegas)'' (2001 – 2003) – Irer *''A Royal Family'' (TV, 2003) – Narrator (English version) *''The Core'' (2005) (documentary) – Niels Bohr *''Hero of God'' (2006) *''[Anna Pihl](/source/Anna_Pihl)'' (TV, 1 episode, 2008) – Mr.Reed *''[Klovn](/source/Klown)'' (TV, 1 episode, 2008) – Dave *''Disco Ormene'' (2008) – Voice *''Maj & Charlie'' (TV, 1 episode, 2008) – Fitness Chef *''Aurum'' (2008) – Mark Boland *''[Livvagterne](/source/Livvagterne)'' (TV, 5 episodes, 2010) – Shane *''The Dark Side of Chocolate'' (2010) (documentary) – Narrator *''[Borgen](/source/Borgen_(TV_series))'' (TV, 2 episodes, 2010 – 2011) – Additional voices *''The Micro Debt'' (2011) (documentary) – Narrator *''The Life and Death of Thomas Simeon'' (2011) – Narrator (voice) *''A Tribute to J. J. Abrams'' (2013) (short) – Voice of Bouncer *''Taming the Quantum World'' (2013) (documentary) – Narrator *''Aftenshowet'' (TV, 2 episodes, 2013 – 2014) – Himself *''Exodus: Humanity Has A Price'' (2014) – Commander *''Monte Carlo Elsker USA'' (2014) – Speaker *''Upstart'' (2014) *''Huldra: Lady of the Forest'' (2016) – Mike *''Digital Romance'' (2016) (short) – Kane *''Bitter Grapes'' (2016) (documentary) – Narrator *''Ø'' (TV, 5 episodes, 2016) – Tommy *''Real Life Hitman'' (2016) (short) – [Agent 47](/source/Agent_47) (voice) *''Level up Norge'' (TV, 1 episode, 2017) – Agent 47 (voice) *''The Messenger'' (short, 2018) – Narrator / Boss *''[Below the Surface](/source/Below_the_Surface_(Danish_TV_series))'' (TV, 1 episode, 2019) – British newsreader (voice) *''Breeder'' (2020) – Speaker *''Kamikaze'' (TV, 1 episode, 2021) – Bengt *''A Taste of Hunger'' (2021) – Michelin Announcer *''The Orchestra'' (TV, 3 episodes, 2022) – Mablewood *''The Exigency II: Course of Action'' (TBA) – Hideout Guard (voice) *''The Somerdahl Murders'' (TV, 2 episodes, 2023) – Eric Windfeldt ==References== ==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.davidbateson.dk/}} * {{IMDb name|0061055}} {{Hitman series}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bateson, David}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:English expatriates in Denmark Category:English male voice actors Category:English male comedians Category:English male film actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors Category:English male video game actors Category:English television presenters Category:Male actors from Durban Category:South African people of British descent Category:University of Natal alumni Category:South African male actors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [David Bateson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bateson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bateson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.