Steve Alpert
Description
Steve Alpert is an American former entertainment executive primarily known for his work with the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, where he served as head of international sales and a member of the board of directors for approximately fifteen years beginning in 1996. While his professional legacy is rooted in business and translation, he is also recognized for a small number of voice acting performances, most notably in the acclaimed film The Wind Rises.
Alpert’s entry into voice acting occurred through his long-standing relationship with Studio Ghibli and its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki. Fluent in Japanese, Alpert had already contributed to the studio’s international success for years, including assisting author Neil Gaiman with the English translation script for the film Princess Mononoke. His distinctive voice work is most prominently featured in the 2013 historical drama The Wind Rises. In the original Japanese version of the film, Alpert voiced the character Castorp, a sophisticated and mysterious German visitor who befriends the protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi. Notably, the character's visual design was directly modeled after Alpert himself. As part of his limited acting credits, he is listed under the name Stephen Alpert for this role in some sources.
Beyond The Wind Rises, Alpert’s voice acting portfolio includes additional work for English-language dubs of Studio Ghibli productions. He contributed additional voices for the English version of the 2010 film Arrietty, which is based on the novel The Borrowers. These performances are generally considered extensions of his deep involvement with the studio's international distribution and production rather than a separate acting career.
Though he left his full-time executive position at Studio Ghibli around 2011 to return to the United States, Alpert has continued to collaborate with the studio on various projects. His unique perspective as an insider from a Western background is documented in his 2020 memoir, Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man, which details his experiences living and working alongside Hayao Miyazaki. The cover of this memoir features the character Castorp, whom he voiced in The Wind Rises.
Alpert’s entry into voice acting occurred through his long-standing relationship with Studio Ghibli and its co-founder, Hayao Miyazaki. Fluent in Japanese, Alpert had already contributed to the studio’s international success for years, including assisting author Neil Gaiman with the English translation script for the film Princess Mononoke. His distinctive voice work is most prominently featured in the 2013 historical drama The Wind Rises. In the original Japanese version of the film, Alpert voiced the character Castorp, a sophisticated and mysterious German visitor who befriends the protagonist, Jiro Horikoshi. Notably, the character's visual design was directly modeled after Alpert himself. As part of his limited acting credits, he is listed under the name Stephen Alpert for this role in some sources.
Beyond The Wind Rises, Alpert’s voice acting portfolio includes additional work for English-language dubs of Studio Ghibli productions. He contributed additional voices for the English version of the 2010 film Arrietty, which is based on the novel The Borrowers. These performances are generally considered extensions of his deep involvement with the studio's international distribution and production rather than a separate acting career.
Though he left his full-time executive position at Studio Ghibli around 2011 to return to the United States, Alpert has continued to collaborate with the studio on various projects. His unique perspective as an insider from a Western background is documented in his 2020 memoir, Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man, which details his experiences living and working alongside Hayao Miyazaki. The cover of this memoir features the character Castorp, whom he voiced in The Wind Rises.
All Characters
- JapaneseAnime overview: The Wind Rises