Spend enough time talking to Kellen Goff, and you begin to realize something quickly: for him, voice acting isn’t just performance, it’s more like architecture. Every character is constructed piece by piece, layer by layer, until something entirely new emerges. It’s a philosophy that has carried him from a kid stapling together homemade stories to one of the most recognizable voices in anime, gaming, and genre entertainment. But for Goff, the path wasn’t just about talent, it was about focus, curiosity, and an almost scientific approach to creativity.
“I’m on the spectrum, I have autism,” he says. “In the 90s, nobody was really quite sure what it was or how to deal with it. My parents did the best they could amd they were already in entertainment, so they encouraged me to get into the arts… I always loved to tell stories.”
That instinct — to build, to explore, to obsess — never really left.
Finding a Voice, One Piece at a Time
Before the conventions, the credits, and the fan-favorite roles, Kellen Goff’s entry point into performance was deceptively simple: storytelling. He assumed writing would be his future but the internet, and more specifically, early YouTube, shifted that trajectory.
“The voices that I’m doing for my friends’ projects [on Youtube], I could be doing that professionally?” he recalls realizing.
From there, the pursuit became singular. Goff describes chasing voice acting “single-mindedly as a special interest,” a phrase that speaks to the intensity that now defines his work ethic.
That focus translated into formal training, including a pivotal workshop with legendary voice actor Bob Bergen. It also set the foundation for a career built not on imitation alone, but transformation.
His philosophy is as practical as it is vivid:
“Take apart the sandwich that is an actor’s performance… take the bologna from that one, the mustard from that one… and make a completely new sandwich.”
It’s an analogy that perfectly captures his approach: dissect, analyze, rebuild.
From Fan to Juggling Franchises
Kellen Goff’s career trajectory includes major roles across anime, gaming, and blockbuster IP, but his breakthrough came with the videogame Five Nights at Freddy’s.
“I booked Five Nights at Freddy’s first. That was my first huge thing… that got me in the public eye,” he explains.
That visibility led to conventions, connections, and ultimately new opportunities, including a full-circle moment that he says still feels surreal. After meeting My Hero Academia director Colleen Clinkenbeard, Goff didn’t hear anything for a year, until he suddenly did.
“A year later, I got an audition [to voice] Overhaul… I thought she had completely forgotten about me, but… you just never know.”
It’s a familiar industry lesson, but one that Goff embodies: relationships matter, even when they seem dormant. His work in Five Nights at Freddy’s also highlights the unconventional nature of his process, especially under creator Scott Cawthon’s direction.
“He would just come to me directly and say, like, ‘hey, this is what I want…’ I would do it on my own… I even edited my own audio with the effects and everything.”
That trust extended all the way to the film adaptation where, in true indie spirit, Goff recorded lines on his phone while out of town at a Shakespeare intensive.
“I don’t really have a mic… He’s like, ‘that’s fine, just use your phone.’”
For a character described as “a creaky, broken robot,” the lo-fi setup ended up being quite the advantage.
The Work Beyond the Work
For all the professional success, Goff is adamant about one thing: not everything creative should be monetized.
“Every creative should have something that they do in their spare time that does not make them money,” he says. “I’m not saying [you can’t have passion for something] if it pays you, but something that you can put your whole self into without the stress of financial stuff… that’s invaluable.”
For him, that outlet is The Ink Tank, a YouTube-based production company focused on expanding the lore of Ben 10. It’s a passion project in the purest sense as fan-driven, community-oriented, and creatively liberating.
That mindset speaks to a broader philosophy: creativity thrives when it’s not constrained by expectation. And in an industry often defined by metrics and outcomes, it’s a reminder of why artists start in the first place.
Advice for the Next Generation
Goff is deeply aware of the challenges facing aspiring actors today, especially in a rapidly evolving, digital-first landscape. His advice is less about traditional gatekeeping systems and more about community-building.
“Seek out indie creators online… ask them if you can help out in any way,” he suggests.
In his view, the future of the industry isn’t just in studios—it’s in the creators building audiences from their own spaces, often with fewer constraints and more creative freedom. “Passion, more often than not wins out… people in power recognize when something is special.”
It’s a pragmatic optimism grounded in experience, but still hopeful about what’s possible. And if that feels like a lot to distill, Goff has already done it himself, in ten words or less:
“Find your tribe. Stay creative. Don’t give up.”
For someone who builds characters from fragments, it’s fitting that his philosophy is just as concise and just as carefully constructed.
Follow Kellen Goff on Instagram for updates on his latest work and convention appearances @KellenGoff