George Newbern

George Newbern, born December 30, 1964, in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an American actor whose career spans live-action and voice work across film, television, and video games. He is best known for playing Bryan MacKenzie in the Father of the Bride franchise, Charlie in ABC's Scandal, and for voicing Superman in the DC animated universe and Sephiroth in the Final Fantasy series. With over 40 films and 60 television credits, Newbern has proven a durable character actor.

His breakthrough came in 1991 with Father of the Bride, a role he reprised in two sequels. On television, he appeared on Friends and Designing Women before landing a seven-season arc on Scandal. His voice acting is particularly iconic: he voiced Superman for over 20 years, from Justice League to Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, and his Sephiroth has become a fan favorite. As of 2026, he remains active in voice work, having recently voiced Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. He is known for his warm, approachable presence and deep voice, and he maintains a private, family-oriented lifestyle.[edit]

Newbern grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, in a supportive middle-class family. His birth name is George Young Newbern. He attended Catholic high school in Little Rock, where he first discovered his passion for acting through school plays and local theater productions, including church performances. After graduating, he studied at the University of Arkansas but left before completing his degree to pursue acting full-time in Los Angeles. His first credited television appearance was on The New Gidget in 1986. He followed that with guest spots on Amazing Stories (1987) and a recurring role on the soap opera Santa Barbara in 1988. A pivotal moment came in 1989 when he was cast as Payne Lassiter on Designing Women, giving him national exposure and steady work for several seasons.[edit]

Newbern's breakthrough came in 1991 when he played Bryan MacKenzie in Father of the Bride, a commercial hit grossing over $89 million domestically. He reprised the role in Father of the Bride Part II (1995), which grossed over $76 million, and the 2020 short film Father of the Bride Part 3(ish). In 1996, he guest-starred as Danny the Yeti on Friends in the episode "The One with the Yeti." That same year, he was cast as the voice of Superman in the DC animated universe, beginning with Superman: The Animated Series. He voiced the character in Justice League (2001-2004), Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006), and numerous direct-to-video films, most recently Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths (2024). He won a BTVA Voice Acting Award in 2015 for Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role for Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. In 2002, he voiced Sephiroth in Kingdom Hearts, a role he expanded in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005), Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020), and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024). He won a BTVA Video Game Voice Acting Award in 2021 for Best Vocal Ensemble for Final Fantasy VII Remake. The game set a Guinness World Record for "Most voice actors in a video game" with over 300 actors. From 2012 to 2018, he played Charlie on Scandal, appearing in 47 episodes across seven seasons. He also guest-starred on Fringe in two episodes.[edit]

Newbern is known for his warm, approachable on-screen presence and his deep, resonant voice in voice work. He has a classic, clean-cut look that suits both romantic comedies and action roles. The media portrays him as a reliable, steady character actor who has built a long career through versatility and professionalism. He is not a tabloid fixture and maintains a private, family-oriented lifestyle. Fans frequently express surprise upon learning that the same actor voices both Superman and Sephiroth, a "voice reveal" that remains a popular topic in fan forums. On social media, Newbern is low-key, posting occasional updates about his work and family without engaging in political or controversial discussions. He has approximately 12,000 followers on Twitter/X and about 8,000 on Facebook, but no verified public Instagram account as of 2026. Sephiroth (voiced by Newbern) has been ranked #1 on IGN's Top 100 Animated Series Villains (2014), #3 on Game Informer's Top 10 Video Game Villains (2018), and #17 on Empire's 50 Greatest Video Game Characters (2015).[edit]

George Newbern's fanbase is a fascinating patchwork, reflecting the many facets of his career. There's no single, unified name for his followers, they're scattered across the worlds of DC animated fans, Final Fantasy devotees, and Scandal viewers. This diffuse yet passionate community is united by their appreciation for his versatility, whether he's voicing the Man of Steel or the iconic villain Sephiroth. His Instagram, where he shares his life as an olive farmer, offers a personal touch that endears him further to fans.

Despite the lack of a formal fandom name, Newbern's connection with his audience is strong. He's a regular at conventions, where fans can meet him in person, and he's been known to reprise beloved roles, keeping the magic alive. However, there are no documented large-scale fan campaigns or organized projects, his fanbase is more about genuine appreciation than orchestrated efforts.

In the grand scheme of fame, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated George Newbern, but as of August 2026, he does not hold a placement in the published rankings. This means he's not currently among the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. While he may not rank in the global fame charts, his enduring presence in multiple beloved franchises speaks to a different kind of lasting impact.[edit]

Newbern was a replacement for Tim Daly as the voice of Superman, taking over for Justice League and subsequent projects. He voiced Sephiroth for nearly 20 years before the character had significant new dialogue in a mainline game with Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020. Newbern is a classically trained stage actor and has performed in several Los Angeles stage productions. He has appeared in over 40 films and 60 television shows. His height is 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm). Notable quotes include: "Playing Superman is a dream come true. I grew up reading the comics, watching the cartoons. To be the voice of that character for so many years is an honor I never take for granted." (Interview with Comic Book Resources, 2015); "Sephiroth is one of the greatest villains ever written. He's not just evil for the sake of being evil; he has a philosophy, a history, a tragedy. That's what makes him so compelling." (Interview with IGN, 2020); and "I've been very lucky. I've had a career that has allowed me to play everything from a guy getting married to a guy trying to kill the world. Not many actors can say that." (Entertainment Weekly interview, 2021).[edit]

Newbern married actress Marietta DePrima in 1998. DePrima is best known for her role as Dr. Mary Duvall on the soap opera One Life to Live. The couple has three children: daughters Emma and Mae, and a son, Luke. They live in Los Angeles, California. Newbern has not publicly shared details about his parents or siblings. He is a lifelong comic book fan and has said playing Superman was a dream come true.[edit]

Newbern frequently collaborated with Kevin Conroy in DC animated projects, where Conroy voiced Batman. He worked alongside Tim Daly, who originally voiced Superman before Newbern took over. On Scandal, his co-stars included Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn. In the Father of the Bride franchise, he acted alongside Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. He also appeared in two episodes of Fringe alongside Lance Reddick. His wife, Marietta DePrima, is an actress known for One Life to Live.[edit]

George Newbern has only one publicly confirmed romantic relationship. He married actress Marietta DePrima in 1998. DePrima is known for her role on One Life to Live. They met through mutual friends in the entertainment industry. The couple has three children: daughters Emma and Mae, and a son, Luke. They have been married for over 25 years with no public reports of separation or divorce. They reside in Los Angeles. As of 2026, Newbern is married to DePrima and the marriage appears stable.[edit]

iFANN currently estimates George Newbern's net worth at $4 million. His income derives primarily from television and voice acting. His seven-season arc on Scandal reportedly paid him $30,000 to $50,000 per episode across 47 episodes. The Father of the Bride franchise provided film salary and residuals. His long-running voice roles as Superman and Sephiroth generate steady residual income; video game voice work typically pays $1,000 to $5,000 per session, with royalties on some projects. He and his wife own a home in Los Angeles. Residuals from streaming of Scandal, Friends syndication, and DC animated projects contribute to his earnings. He has been featured in TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly.[edit]

Newbern has won two BTVA Voice Acting Awards. In 2015, he won Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role for Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. In 2021, he shared the award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game for Final Fantasy VII Remake. He has not won major industry awards like Oscars or Emmys.[edit]