{{short description|American actor and video game developer}} {{Infobox person | name = Joseph Kucan | image = Joseph D. Kucan at gamescom 2009.jpg | caption = Kucan at the 2009 Gamescom | birth_date = | birth_place = | height = | death_date = | website = | notable_works = Kane in ''Command & Conquer'' | spouse = | occupation = Video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, casting director }}
'''Joseph David Kucan''' is an American video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter, and casting director for various gaming companies and films. He is a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. He is well known for his role as Kane from the ''Command & Conquer'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB953170976739764577|title=Joseph Kucan Finds Celebrity As Computer-Game Villain|last=Takahashi|first=Dean|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=2000-03-16|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref>
==Career== Kucan started working with Westwood Studios in 1992. He was originally hired to direct the voice talent, but as CD-ROMs became more popular, he began to experiment with recording full motion video.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200803/N08.0331.1152.21808.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404050035/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200803/N08.0331.1152.21808.htm |title=Raising Kane: The Joe Kucan Interview |last=Ahrens |first=Nick |magazine=Game Informer |date=2008-03-31 |archive-date=2008-04-04 |access-date=2016-12-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the ''Command & Conquer'' saga, Kucan portrays the series' most iconic character, Kane, the messianic/prophetic leader of a pseudo-religious mass movement with transhumanist ambitions called The Brotherhood of Nod.<ref name=euro>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/command-and-conquer-4s-joe-kucan-interview|title=Command & Conquer 4's Joe Kucan|last=Welsh|first=Oli|work=Eurogamer|date=2009-11-16|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref>
He is also featured in ''Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars'' and the subsequent expansion pack ''Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath'' for both PC and Xbox 360, where he reprises his role as Kane. This was the first entry in the series he did not direct.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-candc3s-kane-speaks/1100-6166007/|title=Q&A: C&C3's Kane speaks!|author=<!-- Staff -->|work=GameSpot|date=2007-02-15|access-date=2016-12-17}}</ref> In 2008, Kucan was inducted into the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 as the longest recurring actor in any video game franchise to date for his portrayal of Kane.<ref name=euro/>
He reprised his role once again as Kane in ''Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight'' which marked the conclusion of the ''Tiberian'' series and thus the role of Kane.<ref name=euro/> In 2020, the role of Kane was again taken up by Kucan for a trailer for remasters of the original ''Command & Conquer'' and ''Red Alert''. He also helped Petroglyph Games out by providing old assets for the remasters in the form of old beta max tapes and CDs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-04|title=Command & Conquer Remastered Collection: Joe Kucan returns as Kane|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/04/command-conquer-remastered-collection-joe-kucan-returns-as-kane/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2013, Kucan, along with his partner, Ann-Marie Pereth, and brother, Daniel Kucan, founded A Public Fit Theatre Company based in Las Vegas, NV.<ref>{{cite web |title=APF Founder/Producing Director: Joseph Kucan; A Public Fit Theatre Company |url=https://apublicfit.org/staff/producing-director-joseph-kucan/ |website=A Public Fit Theatre Company |access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Review-Journal |first=Carol Cling Las Vegas |date=2017-04-20 |title=A Public Fit continues provocative theater with 'Realistic Joneses' |url=https://neon.reviewjournal.com/arts-culture/a-public-fit-continues-provocative-theater-with-realistic-joneses/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=Neon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=Going off-script with A Public Fit Theater Company co-founder Ann Marie Pereth - Las Vegas Weekly |url=https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2022/may/05/a-public-fit-theater-company-ann-marie-pereth/ |access-date=2026-01-29 |website=lasvegasweekly.com}}</ref>
==Games== * ''The Legend of Kyrandia - Book One'' (1992), Virgin Games (voiced Brandon) * ''The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Two: The Hand of Fate'' (1993), Virgin Games (voiced the narrator, implied to be Brandon) * ''Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos'' (1993), Westwood Studios (voiced Nathaniel the Herbalist / Phillip) * ''The Legend of Kyrandia - Book Three: Malcolm's Revenge'' (1994), Virgin Interactive (voiced Brandon) * ''Monopoly'' (1995), Hasbro Interactive * ''Command & Conquer'' (1995), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Red Alert'' (1996), Westwood Studios (played Kane and directed cut-scenes) * ''Lands of Lore II: Guardians of Destiny'' (1997), Avalon Interactive (directed cut-scenes) * ''Blade Runner'' (1997), Virgin Interactive (voiced Crazylegs Larry, wrote the script and directed voice-over) * ''Dune 2000'' (1998), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation'' (1999), Westwood Studios (directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun'' (1999), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes) * ''Nox'' (2000), Westwood Pacific (directed voice-over) * ''Command & Conquer: Firestorm'' (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (played Kane and directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2'' (2000), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge'' (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes) * ''Emperor: Battle for Dune'' (2001), Westwood Studios - EA Games (directed cut-scenes) * ''Command & Conquer: Renegade'' (2002), Westwood Studios - EA Games (voiced Kane and directed cut-scenes) * ''Pirates: The Legend of Black Kat'' (2002), Westwood Studios * ''Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars'' (2007), EA Los Angeles (played Kane) * ''Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath'' (2008), EA Los Angeles (played Kane) * ''Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight'' (2010), EA Los Angeles (played Kane) * ''Command & Conquer Remastered Collection'' (2020), Petroglyph Games
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0473614}} * {{moby developer |id=2476 |name=Joseph D. Kucan}}
{{Westwood Studios}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kucan, Joseph D.}} Category:Living people Category:American male film actors Category:American male video game actors Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American male voice actors Category:American casting directors Category:Westwood Studios