Kenny Ackerman, often known as “Kenny the Ripper,” is voiced by Kazuhiro Yamaji in the original Japanese version of Attack on Titan. In the English dub, the character is voiced by Phil Parsons. Their performances brought to life one of the series’ most charismatic and dangerous antagonists, the notorious captain of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad and Levi Ackerman’s uncle.
JAPANESE VOICE ACTOR (Kazuhiro Yamaji)
Date of Birth
Kazuhiro Yamaji (山路 和弘)
- June 4, 1954
About Kazuhiro
Kazuhiro Yamaji is a veteran Japanese actor, voice actor, and narrator with a career spanning decades across anime, film dubbing, television, and theater. Renowned for his deep, commanding voice, he frequently portrays authority figures, villains, antiheroes, and seasoned warriors.
As Kenny Ackerman, Yamaji delivers a performance filled with menace, swagger, and surprising philosophical depth. His portrayal captures Kenny’s ruthless reputation while also conveying the character’s complex reflections on power, freedom, and human nature.
Hometown
Mie Prefecture, Japan
Career Highlights
Some of Kazuhiro Yamaji’s most notable roles include:
- Kenny Ackerman — Attack on Titan
- Silver Fang — One-Punch Man
- Hit — Dragon Ball Super
- Kenjaku — Jujutsu Kaisen
- Guile — Street Fighter Japanese media
- Nicholas D. Wolfwood — Trigun Stampede
- Extensive Japanese dubbing work for actors including Jason Statham and Hugh Jackman
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects major documented credits from reputable public sources and is not intended to be a complete record of Yamaji’s career.
Television Anime
- Attack on Titan — Kenny Ackerman
- One-Punch Man — Silver Fang (Bang)
- Dragon Ball Super — Hit
- Jujutsu Kaisen — Kenjaku
- Trigun Stampede — Nicholas D. Wolfwood
- PSYCHO-PASS 3 — Obata
- Spy × Family — Donovan Desmond
Video Games
- Attack on Titan 2 — Kenny Ackerman
- Street Fighter franchise — Guile (Japanese voice)
- Numerous anime and action-game franchises
Critical Reception
Kenny Ackerman quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his blend of humor, brutality, and philosophical introspection. Yamaji’s performance is frequently praised for making Kenny feel both terrifying and strangely charismatic. His final scenes, in particular, are often cited among the most memorable character moments in Attack on Titan.
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Kenny Ackerman (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Attack-on-Titan/Kenny-Ackerman/)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Kenny Ackerman Voices (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Attack-on-Titan/Kenny-Ackerman/)
- Attack on Titan Wiki – Kenny Ackermann (Anime) (https://attackontitan.fandom.com/wiki/Kenny_Ackermann_(Anime))
- Anibase – Kenny Ackerman (https://anibase.net/en/character/4dq7A/Kenny-Ackerman)
ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR (Phil Parsons)
Date of Birth
Phil Parsons (Philip Mark Parsons)
- November 8, 1968 (DBpedia Association)
About Phil
Phil Parsons is an American voice actor best known for his extensive work in anime dubbing with Funimation and Crunchyroll. He has built a reputation for voicing powerful authority figures, hardened veterans, and intimidating antagonists.
As Kenny Ackerman in Attack on Titan, Parsons delivers a charismatic and menacing performance that perfectly captures the infamous “Kenny the Ripper.” His portrayal balances Kenny’s ruthless reputation with the humor, swagger, and philosophical depth that make the character one of the most memorable figures in the series. (Wikipedia)
Hometown
Lubbock, Texas, United States. (Dubbing)
Career Highlights
Some of Phil Parsons’ most notable roles include:
- Kenny Ackerman — Attack on Titan
- Nappa — Dragon Ball franchise
- Leonard Burns — Fire Force
- Buccaneer — Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
- Azazel — High School DxD
- Renji Yomo — Tokyo Ghoul
- Klaus V. Reinherz — Blood Blockade Battlefront
- Tensei Iida (Ingenium) — My Hero Academia (Wikipedia)
Full Current Filmography
The following list reflects major documented credits from reputable sources and may not be exhaustive.
Television Anime
- Attack on Titan — Kenny Ackerman
- Dragon Ball Z — Nappa, Grand Supreme Kai
- Dragon Ball Super — Nappa
- Fire Force — Leonard Burns
- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood — Buccaneer
- High School DxD — Azazel
- Tokyo Ghoul — Renji Yomo
- Blood Blockade Battlefront — Klaus V. Reinherz
- My Hero Academia — Tensei Iida
- One Piece — Jesus Burgess, Jabra, Capote, and others (Wikipedia)
Anime Films
- Attack on Titan compilation films — Kenny Ackerman
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly — Nappa
- Evangelion Rebuild films — Shigeru Aoba
- The Boy and the Beast — Additional Voices
- Summer Wars — Additional Voices (IMDb)
Video Games
- Attack on Titan game adaptations — Kenny Ackerman
- Dragon Ball FighterZ — Nappa
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse series — Nappa
- Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot — Nappa
- Smite — Apollo, Chiron
- Battleborn — Caldarius (Wikipedia)
Critical Reception
Phil Parsons’ portrayal of Kenny Ackerman is widely praised among English-dub fans for capturing the character’s larger-than-life personality without losing the darker elements that define him. His gravelly delivery and confident swagger make Kenny feel simultaneously dangerous and strangely likable, especially during the Uprising Arc. Many viewers consider his final scenes with Levi among the strongest performances in the English adaptation of Attack on Titan. (Wikipedia)
Our Sources
- Behind The Voice Actors – Kenny Ackerman (Attack on Titan) (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Attack-on-Titan/Kenny-Ackerman/)
- Behind The Voice Actors – Phil Parsons Profile (https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Phil-Parsons/) (Behind the Voice Actors)
- Phil Parsons Biography (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Parsons_(voice_actor)) (Wikipedia)
- IMDb – Phil Parsons (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1503776/) (IMDb)
- Dubbing Wiki – Phil Parsons (https://dubbing.fandom.com/wiki/Phil_Parsons) (Dubbing)
Social Media
Verified public social media accounts for Phil Parsons are not consistently documented in major industry sources. As a result, no official social media profiles are listed here.
