Red Dead 2's Arthur Morgan Actor Reveals Gross Voice Acting Trick

Ever wondered how Arthur Morgan's gut-wrenching coughs in Red Dead Redemption 2 felt so real? Turns out, actor Roger Clark didn't have to fake it as much as you'd think.

In a recent interview, Clark revealed that performing Arthur's tuberculosis-ravaged coughing fits was "not as bad as you'd think" — partly because he sometimes recorded those scenes while genuinely sick. With five years of voice capture spread across the game's development, there was plenty of time to work around it.

"In five years, there's plenty of colds. There was a lot of data we got that was pretty damn genuine," Clark said. He'd tell the team, "Hey, I've got a cold, let me get in there," and they'd happily agree. His own words? "Nice good bit of phlegm."

Smart scheduling helped too. If a particularly brutal coughing scene was on the docket, it was saved for the end of a recording day — when Clark's voice was already hoarse from hours of work. That way, the raspy, dying sound came naturally rather than being forced.

Clark's performance as Arthur Morgan earned him Best Performance at The Game Awards in 2018, and it's easy to see why. Beyond Red Dead 2, he's also known for roles in Fort Solis, Rosewater, and Marathon. But Arthur remains his most iconic character — and now we know a little more about the messy, human process behind those unforgettable moments.

Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 87 million copies, making it one of the top five best-selling games of all time. Rockstar's next big launch is GTA 6, arriving in November for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. As for another Red Dead? Given the series' massive success, a fourth entry (counting Red Dead Revolver) is expected eventually — but definitely not soon.

So next time you hear Arthur hacking up a lung, just know: that might be Roger Clark's actual cold you're hearing. What do you think — does knowing this make the performance even more impressive? Will you be replaying Red Dead 2 with fresh ears?