Garry Chalk (born February 17, 1952) is an English-born Canadian actor. He has provided the voices for Optimus Primal of Beast Wars: Transformers and Beast Machines: Transformers, as well as Optimus Prime in the anime English dubs of Transformers: Armada, Transformers Energon, and Transformers: Cybertron. Chalk's live-action performances include The Fly II, Godzilla, Freddy vs. Jason, Stargate SG-1, and Cold Squad.

Early life

Chalk was born in Southampton, Hampshire in 1952. When he was 5, his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Career

Chalk has been involved with theatre since 1978 and has performed at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company (VPTC), the Arts Club Theatre Company (ACTC), The Vancouver Theatresports League and various low-budget theatres in Canada. Chalk's last live stage production was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, where he played Miles Gloriosus. He also performed in Henry IV and As You Like It at the VPTC, as well as Dracula and Passion at the ACTC.

Most of his career has been in film and television, usually portraying corrupt members of law enforcement. He had a recurring role on Cold Squad for four years, for which he won Gemini Awards in two consecutive years, and until the close of its ninth season had a recurring role on the science-fiction series Stargate SG-1. Known for his enunciation and mellifluous deep voice, Chalk is also a veteran of over 1,500 animated productions including Class of the Titans, and the 2002 remake of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He is also known for his voice work in the Transformers franchise as the voice of Optimus Primal in Beast Wars and Beast Machines, and as Optimus Prime in the Unicron Trilogy. He also voiced the original Megatron in an episode of Beast Wars.

In the 2000s, he appeared in the Sci-Fi Channel shows Eureka, as Col. Briggs and Painkiller Jane, as Ruben Hennessey.

Personal life

Chalk has been married to his wife Colleen Hardwick (née Nystedt) since September 2013.

In 2024, Chalk was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma.. On February 24, 2026, Chalk confirmed he had gone into remission.

Filmography

Film

Television

Animation

• 3-2-1 Penguins! – Sol, Bert/Cavitus

• ¡Mucha Lucha! – El Haystack Grande, Protozoa, El Kolor De Kurtz, Additional Voices

• Alien Racers – Dravox

• Animated Classic Showcase – Various Characters

• Barbie as the Island Princess – Frazer, Calvin

• Beast Machines: Transformers – Optimus Primal

• Beast Wars: Transformers – Optimus Primal, Megatron G1 (episode 38)

• Being Ian – Mr. Cartwright

• Billy the Cat – Additional Voices

• Chip and Potato – Gordie Pug

• Class of the Titans – Hercules and Ares

• Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies – King Gurumes (1996 BLT/Funimation dub)

• Dennis the Menace: Cruise Control – Hector

• Eon Kid – Duke Von Rhymer

• Extreme Dinosaurs – Badrap

• Fat Dog Mendoza – Interpreter X, House Painter

• The Fearless Four – The Baron, The Miller, Platini, Guard #2

• G.I. Joe Extreme – Lieutenant Stone

• Gadget & the Gadgetinis – Additional Voices

• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002) – Man-At-Arms (Duncan), Whiplash

• Hurricanes – Additional Voices

• Hello Carbot — Ace

• Kissyfur – Additional Voices

• LeapFrog – Additional Voices

• Leo the Lion: King of the Jungle – Leo the Lion

• Mama, Do You Love Me? – Papa

• Mummies Alive! – Referee, Old Man, Professor, Truck Driver, Movie Pharaoh, Yussef, Mr. Sullivan

• My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever – Prince Rutherford, Oak Nut, and Pony Vendor 3

• My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Fido, Prince Rutherford

• Pinky Dinky Doo – Librarian

• Pirate Express – Pontus, Ted

• Popeye's Voyage: The Quest for Pappy – Bluto

• RoboCop: Alpha Commando – Additional Voices

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys – Santa Claus, Bumble the Abominable Snowman

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie – Blitzen

• Scary Godmother: Halloween Spooktakular – Harry the Werewolf, Bug-A-Boo

• Scary Godmother: The Revenge of Jimmy – Harry the Werewolf, Bug-A-Boo

• Shadow Raiders – Emperor Femur

• Sitting Ducks – Jerry, Additional Voices

• Sleeping Beauty – Misc

• Sonic Underground – Dr. Robotnik, Additional Voices

• Spider-Man Unlimited – Mr. Meugniot, Additional Voices

• Street Sharks – Spike, El Swordo

• The Adventures of Corduroy

• The Colours of World – Captain Dark Colour

• The New Adventures of He-Man – He-Man, Artilla, President Pell, Alcon, Sgt. Krone, Andros, Gross

• Voltron Force – Sky Marshall Wade, Manset

• Weird-Ohs – Uncle Huey

• What About Mimi? – Principal Earl

Video games

Awards

Gemini Awards

• 2000–2001/2001–2002 Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Cold Squad

References

External links