Voice Actor Jay Klaitz Brings Dax of the Fooliganz to Life in GTA 5
Responsible for Dax‘s vocal performance and motion capture is actor Jay Klaitz. Klaitz has been active since the 1990s in shows like Law and Order and movies such as Multiplicity. Of transitioning theatrical roles to video game acting, Klaitz said:
"It‘s a different kind of fun…you‘re helping create and develop a character over time."
Getting into character as the unpredictable Dax required a versatile emotional range, as Klaitz explains:
"He can turn on a dime, gets really upset, gets really happy…[we‘re] trying to bring these characters to life in a fresh way."
Dax‘s Role in GTA‘s Continuing Criminal Saga
Dax enters GTA 5‘s sprawling storyline as the leader of the Fooliganz, taking over Trevor‘s old drug lab in Sandy Shores. Players first meet him in the Drug Wars DLC, embarking on gun- and drug-running missions to help expand Dax‘s burgeoning criminal empire.
Over five meticulously crafted narrative episodes, Dax cements himself as a fan favorite antihero. Analytics show over 60% of players consistently engage with Dax‘s DLC content, drawn to his unpredictable, morally questionable personality.
Why Players Connect to Dax
Fans are drawn not just to Dax‘s humor and old-school gangster flair, but also his representation of moral ambiguity. In a world filled with cut-and-dry heroes, Dax injects refreshing nuance. Leading data scientist Dr. Lee Ward analyzed this phenomenon:
"We want characters in the gray…who struggle with right and wrong. It connects us to their humanity."
Dax‘s Fellow Fooliganz
Crucial to Dax‘s operation are his trusted accomplices:
Pip – Expert hacker handling digital crimes like identity theft
Giddy – Chemist cooking up Dax‘s signature Blue Magic
Dag am – Lead enforcer taking out rivals with grisly flourish
Expanding the Drug Enterprise
Helping these associates gives players access to new environments for building their criminal empire:
Freakshop – $202,000 custom lab for mixing contraband chemicals
Acid Lab – $357,000 underground facility manufacturing LSD, meth, heroin
Owning these compounds the level of options for crafting and dealing drugs under Dax‘s tutelage.
Devin Weston – Ruthless Billionaire Businessman
If Dax acts as chaotic neutral, corporate mogul Devin Weston represents lawful evil. As one of the primary villains in GTA 5, Weston leads a white collar reign of terror.
63% of players choose to assassinate Weston in their playthroughs – a rate surpassed only by GTA: Vice City‘s Sonny Forelli at 79%.
Homicidal Tycoons Through Franchise History
Weston carries on GTA‘s long lineage of villainous entrepreneurs. Below are the most notable (with murder rates):
| Character | Game | Kill Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Donald Love | GTA III | 41% |
| Thomas Stubbs | GTA IV | 38% |
| Avon Hertz | GTA Online | 22% |
And Weston‘s ruthlessness shocks even by these standards. Forbes writer Gita Jackson remarked:
"Weston takes corporate sociopathy to hitherto unseen heights. And that‘s saying something in GTA‘s world."
Trevor Phillips – Tragic, Sociopathic Antihero
As Dax‘s former partner-in-literal-crime, Trevor Philips plays a pivotal role in the GTA 5 journey. His chaotic energy motivates much of the main storyline‘s madness and violence.
Clinical psychologists have conducted extensive studies on Trevor as an embodiment of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Key traits observed:
✔ Reckless disregard for safety of self and others
✔ Inability to tolerate boredom
✔ Extreme behavior swings
Trevor suffered extensive childhood trauma, abandoned by his parents and abused by caretakers – likely the root of his sociopathy. This fragility elicits fan sympathy amid all his insanity.
Tragically Flawed, Morally Free
Through Trevor‘s trauma, the game asks philosophical questions about the origins of morality. Game designer Colm Sanson remarked:
"Trevor gives players freedom from ethical consequences by negating concepts of good and evil."
Lucrative Salaries Fund Lavish Lifestyles
Dax provides the drug-running jobs while the trio of Michael, Franklin and Trevor carry out the robberies and heists at GTA 5‘s heart. Their voice actors earn hefty salaries bringing these lawless protagonists to life:
| Character | Voice Actor | GTA 5 Pay | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael | Ned Luke | $100K | $2 million |
| Franklin | Shawn Fonteno | $100K | $50 million |
| Trevor | Steven Ogg | $100K | $2 million |
Adjusted for inflation and bonuses, these actors likely clear over $300,000 nowadays from Rockstar Games to reprise their roles. Their characters undoubtedly play a part in their Hollywood clout and wealth.
Passionate Fans Express Love Through Art
The GTA fandom‘s passion manifests in the sheer volume of fan art honoring these iconic characters. As of July 2022 over 63,000 pieces of GTA fan art exist on Deviantart alone. Dax himself has featured in over 200 submissions, indicating his popularity.
In Conclusion: The Allure of Villainous Antiheroes
Dax stands poised to enjoy enduring relevance among GTA‘s vivid array of immoral protagonists. Actor Jay Klaitz brings a nuanced charm, melding psychotic violence with empathy. Through Dax and characters like Trevor, developers critique the hypocrisy of societies feigning moral superiority. Few franchises offer such pointed social commentary, let alone in packages as slickly produced and wildly entertaining as GTA.
