Ken Meseroll
Description
Ken Meseroll is an American actor and voice actor, widely recognized for providing the English voice of the character Derek Wildstar in the classic anime series Star Blazers. Born in New Jersey on April 15, 1952, his career in entertainment began in 1979. He later formalized his training, earning a Bachelor of Arts in theater acting between 1993 and 1995.
Meseroll's most prominent and enduring voice role is that of Derek Wildstar, the passionate young tactical officer, in the English-dubbed version of the iconic Japanese anime Space Battleship Yamato. He first voiced the character in the 1979 series Star Blazers, providing his voice for all 52 episodes. This role established him as a significant figure in the early days of anime localization in the United States. Decades later, Meseroll returned to the role for the new adaptation, voicing Derek Wildstar in the 2018 series Star Blazers 2202. The DVD and Blu-ray releases for this series include special features such as an interview with Meseroll discussing his work on the character. He also participated in the 2005 documentary Space Battleship Yamato: The Making of an Anime Legend.
While his voice work in Star Blazers remains a signature credit, the majority of Meseroll's extensive career has been in live-action television and film. He is a prolific character actor with guest appearances in numerous popular series, demonstrating his versatility across genres. His television credits span decades and include roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Ensign McDowell, The X-Files, The West Wing, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Criminal Minds, Mad Men, S.W.A.T., and Station 19. He also had a recurring role in the science fiction series 10,000 Days and appeared in the film Dark Skies. His more recent work includes a role in the series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty from 2022 to 2023.
Meseroll is a member of the Interact Theatre Company ensemble, underscoring his ongoing commitment to stage performance alongside his screen work. His career is notable for its longevity and the significant impact of his early anime voice role, which he revisited decades later, connecting two generations of science fiction fans.
Meseroll's most prominent and enduring voice role is that of Derek Wildstar, the passionate young tactical officer, in the English-dubbed version of the iconic Japanese anime Space Battleship Yamato. He first voiced the character in the 1979 series Star Blazers, providing his voice for all 52 episodes. This role established him as a significant figure in the early days of anime localization in the United States. Decades later, Meseroll returned to the role for the new adaptation, voicing Derek Wildstar in the 2018 series Star Blazers 2202. The DVD and Blu-ray releases for this series include special features such as an interview with Meseroll discussing his work on the character. He also participated in the 2005 documentary Space Battleship Yamato: The Making of an Anime Legend.
While his voice work in Star Blazers remains a signature credit, the majority of Meseroll's extensive career has been in live-action television and film. He is a prolific character actor with guest appearances in numerous popular series, demonstrating his versatility across genres. His television credits span decades and include roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation as Ensign McDowell, The X-Files, The West Wing, CSI: Miami, Without a Trace, Grey's Anatomy, Castle, Criminal Minds, Mad Men, S.W.A.T., and Station 19. He also had a recurring role in the science fiction series 10,000 Days and appeared in the film Dark Skies. His more recent work includes a role in the series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty from 2022 to 2023.
Meseroll is a member of the Interact Theatre Company ensemble, underscoring his ongoing commitment to stage performance alongside his screen work. His career is notable for its longevity and the significant impact of his early anime voice role, which he revisited decades later, connecting two generations of science fiction fans.
All Characters
- EnglishAnime overview: Star Blazers: The Comet Empire
- EnglishAnime overview: Star Blazers