Akio Otsuka is a Japanese actor and voice actor born on November 24, 1959, in Tokyo. He is affiliated with the talent agency Mausu Promotion. He is the son of the late, renowned voice actor Chikao Otsuka. Before entering the entertainment industry, Otsuka worked as a truck driver until the age of 23. He initially pursued a career in stage acting before transitioning to voice acting in 1988.

Otsuka is known for his deep, astringent, and calm voice, which has led him to be cast in a wide variety of roles, from authoritative figures and villains to charismatic heroes and even comedic or non-human characters. Some of his most iconic and long-standing roles include the title character in Black Jack, Batou in the Ghost in the Shell series, and Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, in One Piece. He is also the voice of Solid Snake and other incarnations of the character in the Metal Gear Solid video game series, a role for which he is widely recognized. In the realm of anime, he has portrayed Shunsui Kyoraku in Bleach, Rider in Fate/Zero, All For One in My Hero Academia, and Thorkell in Vinland Saga.

He voices the spirit Ekubo in Mob Psycho 100, Kubo in My Home Hero, Yujiro Hanma in the Baki Hanma series, and Ochi Fukuchi in Bungo Stray Dogs. He also plays the second-generation Daisuke Jigen in Lupin the Third Part 6, succeeding the late Kobayashi Kiyoshi in the role. In Shangri-La Frontier, he voices the character Weissasche. He also had a role in the film Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection, playing the character Forgner.

Throughout his career, Otsuka has been a recurring presence in the works of specific franchises and studios, such as the long-running Lupin III and Ghost in the Shell series. His filmography demonstrates frequent collaborations with Production I.G on projects like the Ghost in the Shell series, and with Sunrise on various Gundam titles, including his notable role as Anavel Gato in Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.

In recognition of his contributions and his role in promoting the voice acting profession, Akio Otsuka was awarded the Kei Tomiyama Award at the 9th Seiyu Awards in 2015. His ability to portray a vast range of characters, from the stoic and serious to the flamboyant and villainous, has cemented his status as one of Japan's most distinguished and versatile voice actors.