Khary Payton (born May 16, 1972) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as King Ezekiel on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2016–2022), as well as voicing Cyborg across various DC media and Kaldur'ahm / Aqualad in the animated series Young Justice (2010–2013; 2019–2022).
Early life Payton was born in Augusta, Georgia. At the age of 14, he won Showtime's first annual Kid Talent Quest, and a recording exists of him introducing an animated film called Sherlock Holmes in the Baskerville Curse broadcast on Showtime in September 1986.
Career Live-action work Payton appeared on a recurring basis as Dr. Terrell Jackson on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. He portrayed King Ezekiel on AMC's The Walking Dead.
Voice work
Payton has voiced Cyborg in both Teen Titans animated series and Aqualad in Young Justice, reprising his role in Teen Titans Go!. Payton has also voiced Cyborg and Doomsday in Injustice: Gods Among Us, as well as Cyborg and Grid in Injustice 2. In the animated series Justice League, Payton provided the voice of the villain Ten from the Royal Flush Gang. He also provided the voice of Drebin in the game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ripcord in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Blade in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Grimlock in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Harold McBride in The Loud House (replacing Wayne Brady), Quinn Derringer in République, Killer Croc in Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Underworld, and Batman: Arkham Shadow, Wasabi in Big Hero 6: The Series and Kingdom Hearts III (replacing Damon Wayans Jr.) and the current voice of Rafiki in The Lion King franchise (replacing the late Robert Guillaume).
Personal life Payton has three children. He married Linda Braddock in 2001, and they divorced in 2009. He married Stacey Reed in 2010 and they filed for divorce in 2019. He has two children with Reed.
Filmography Voice over roles Television Year Title Role Notes Ref The Proud Family Slapmaster Episode: "The Altos" –2006 Teen Titans Cyborg, Herald A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.2003 Justice League Ten Episode: "Wild Cards" 2004The ShieldLil PsychEpisode: "Cracking Ice" –2007 Codename: Kids Next Door Maurice / Numbuh 9, additional voices 3 episodes 2006 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Mitch Episode: "E-Scream" 2006-2007 Ben 10 Hex, additional voices 7 episodes Loonatics Unleashed General Deuce 3 episodes 2007 Friday: The Animated Series Craig Jones Legion of Super-Heroes Tyr, Hunter 2 episodes –2010 Ben 10: Alien Force Manny, Hex 6 episodes Generator Rex Beasly, Gang Punk, Male Providence Cadet #2, Pilot 3 episodes –2011 G.I. Joe: Renegades Ripcord, Wallace Weems, Guard #1, Lead Trooper 7 episodes –2013, 2019–2022 Young Justice Aqualad / Doctor Fate, Brick, Black Manta, Black Lightning, Robotman, Silas Stone, additional voices Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Hex Episode: "The Enemy of My Frenemy" –present Teen Titans Go! Cyborg, Zan, Couch, Universe Tree, Halloween Spirit, Young Justice Aqualad, Himself, various voices 2014 Ben 10: Omniverse Manny, Hex, Student 4 episodes Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered Cyborg TV special –2017 Transformers: Robots in Disguise Grimlock, Bisk, Divebomb, additional voices 2015 Fresh Beat Band of Spies Rubberface Rudy, Teller #1 Episode: "Fake Fresh Beats" Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Tony, Stan, Axel 2 episodes –2019 The Lion Guard Rafiki, Muhangus 12 episodes Sofia the First Barley Episode: "Bunny Swap"2016-2017 DC Super Hero Girls Cyborg, Lion-Mane 5 episodes Justice League Action Cyborg, Kanjar Ro 6 episodes –2021 Big Hero 6: The Series Wasabi, additional voices2017 Guardians of the Galaxy Jukka, Ship Crasher #2 2 episodes Elena of Avalor Captain Chiloya Episode: "Party of a Lifetime" Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure Kai –present Invincible Black Samson, Kyle, additional voices 2022–2023 The Legend of Vox Machina Sovereign Uriel Tal'Dorei 6 episodes 2022–present The Loud House Harold McBride, additional voices 3 episodes 2024–2025 Hot Wheels Let's Race Speedy Getaway 20 episodes Krapopolis Additional voices Recurring role
Film Year Title Role Notes Source Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo Cyborg TV movie The Legend of Awesomest Maximus King Erotic Comedy Film Strange Frame: Love & Sax Atem Astronaut: The Last Push Michael Forrest Khumba Dassies, Wild Dog English dub Batman: Assault on Arkham Inmates, Henchmen Direct-to-video2015 Justice League: Throne of Atlantis John Henry Irons Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League Cyborg, Cyzarro Justice League: Gods and Monsters John Henry Irons Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem Cyborg Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom Cyborg, Cy-Bot The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar Rafiki 2016 Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash Cyborg Direct-to-video Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League: Gotham City Breakout DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year 2017 DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games Cyborg, Lead The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar Rafiki2018 Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash Cyborg Direct-to-video Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High Cyborg, Wizard Shazam Teen Titans Go! To the Movies Cyborg Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis Direct-to-video DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis 2019 Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans 2020 Bobbleheads: The Movie Deuce 2021 Teen Titans Go! See Space Jam Cyborg TV movie 2022 Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse Cyborg, Narrator Direct-to-video 2023 The Super Mario Bros. Movie Penguin King 2024No Time to Spy: A Loud House MovieHarold McBride
Video games + Year Title Role Notes Source Deus Ex Smuggler, JoJo Fine2004 Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain Lawrence Mujari The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay Rael, Michaels Men of Valor Greaser, Random Marines2005 X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse Bishop, Nick Fury Quake 4 Bidwell Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Additional voices2006 Teen Titans Cyborg Reservoir Dogs Mr. Blue Saints Row Additional voices Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Blade, Paibok SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 2 WRAITH Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 Zack2007 God of War II Rhodes Soldiers, Spartan Soldiers Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Blade 2008 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots Drebin 893 English dub SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation Commando 3 Resistance 2 Warner Tom Clancy's EndWar Additional voices2009 FusionFall Hex Ninja Blade Andy Walker The Sims 3 Sim Prototype Additional voices Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Earl Deveraux Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Luke Cage, Blade2010 No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle Nathan Copeland SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 WRAITH Dead or Alive Paradise Zack Ben 10 Alien Force: The Rise of Hex Hex Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Soldiers, Extras English dub StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Additional voices2011 Killzone 3 Additional ISA voices Dead or Alive: Dimensions Zack Infamous 2 Male Pedestrians Spider-Man: Edge of Time Additional voices Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Razor Co-Pilot Batman: Arkham City Azrael, Inmates Star Wars: The Old Republic Additional voices2012 Starhawk Emmett Graves PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale SimCity BuildIt Additional voices Aliens: Colonial Marines Marine Tomb Raider Islanders God of War: Ascension Soldier, Slave Injustice: Gods Among Us Cyborg, Doomsday Metro: Last Light Additional voices Fuse Jacob Kimble Marvel Heroes Blade, War Machine Batman: Arkham Origins Killer Croc, Warden Joseph Young Justice: Legacy Aqualad, Black Manta République Quinn Derringer 2014 Infamous Second Son Additional voices Infamous First Light Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Lieutenant Knox also motion capture 2015 Infinite Crisis Cyborg Lego Dimensions Cyborg (Teen Titans Go!) Batman: Arkham Knight Azrael Mafia III Additional voices Injustice 2 Cyborg, Grid Kingdom Hearts III Wasabi English dub2020World of Warcraft: ShadowlandsHenry Garrick Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical Pan 2024 Batman: Arkham Shadow Otis Flannagan, Killer Croc 2025Dune AwakeningRaif Oslow, Dhood Shazz2026Marvel 1943: Rise of HydraAzzuri / Black Panther
Live action roles Television Year Title Role Notes Source Walker, Texas Ranger Gillis Episode: "Justice for All" Imagine That Demetrius Episode: "The Married Balladeer" JAG Seaman James Westin Episode: "Touchdown" The Shield Kaliel "Lil' Psych" Wilkes Episode: "Cracking Ice" –2008 Emily's Reasons Why Not Josh 6 episodes Hannah Montana Roger the Director Episode: "More Than a Zombie to Me" How I Met Your Mother Guy #3 in Booth Episode: "The Fight"2009 Medium Mr. Bronson Episode: "Baby Fever" Criminal Minds Det. Landon Kaminski Episode: "Slave of Duty"2010 I'm in the Band Director Kaz Ridley Episode: "Spiders, Snakes and Clowns" Lie to Me Cpt. Stan Renshaw Episode: "React to Contact" CSI: Miami Aaron Taber Episode: "Manhunt" General Hospital Dr. Terrell Jackson 24 episodes2012 Fairly Legal Tom Finnerman Episode: "Kiss Me, Kate" Go On Don Episode: "Pilot" Body of Proof Brad Carter Episode: "Breakout" –2022 The Walking Dead Ezekiel Sutton Hand of God Major Tom 2 episodes Critical Role Shakäste 2 episodes UnDeadwood Aloysius Fogg 4 episodes 2025 Watson Miles McClung Episode: "A Son in the Oven"
Film Year Title Role Notes Source Dracula II: Ascension Kenny Latter Days Andrew Hellraiser: Hellworld Derrick Ping Pong Playa JP Money Blood: The Last Vampire Creature The Legend of Awesomest Maximus King Erotic Astronaut: The Last Push Michael ForrestAlso producer
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2014 BTVA Voice Acting Awards Best Male Vocal Performance in a TV Series in a Guest Role - Action/Drama Ben 10: Omniverse 2015 Best Male Lead Vocal Performance in a TV Series Transformers: Robots In Disguise 2018 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series The Walking Dead 2019 Best Supporting Actor on a Television Series
References
External links