You know the voice before you know the name. It is the deep rumble behind Goliath in Gargoyles, the Arbiter in Halo, and a long list of documentaries. The face is just as familiar from The Thing, Platoon, and They Live.
So what does a career like that add up to? Celebrity Net Worth puts Keith David's net worth at about $5 million. His money comes from acting, voice acting, narration, television, film, and theater.
You may see other numbers online, and that is normal. Net worth for private individuals is always an estimate, and I'll explain why below. If you like comparing veteran performers, you may also enjoy Ian McShane's net worth breakdown.
What Is Keith David's Net Worth in 2026?
Celebrity Net Worth lists David at $5 million. Primetimer repeated that figure in June 2026, when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Not every site agrees. You will find numbers from under $2 million to $15 million or more. Some of those pages show no method at all and simply recycle each other's guesses. Actors do not publish their bank statements, so writers work from salary reports, credit counts, and guesswork. A site that counts roles differently, or updates rarely, will land on a different number.
For that reason, treat $5 million as a reasonable estimate rather than a fact. It is also the figure from the most established source.
Keith David's wealth comes from steady work over decades, not one blockbuster paycheck. He has been working since 1977. His credits run past 400 roles across film, stage, television, and games. He rarely has a quiet year, and that consistency is the real engine of his earnings.
For comparison, Sadie Sink's net worth shows how a much younger star's earnings can look different at an earlier stage.
Keith David Net Worth at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Keith David Williams |
| Profession | Actor, voice actor, narrator, producer, singer |
| Estimated net worth | About $5 million (Celebrity Net Worth) |
| Date of birth | June 4, 1956 |
| Years active | 1977 to present |
| Main income sources | Film, television, voice acting, narration, theater |
How Does Keith David Make His Money?
He earns from four lanes, and they feed each other. A film role raises his profile. That profile brings voice work. Voice work leads to narration offers.
Film and Television Acting
David has worked in Hollywood for nearly five decades. His film list includes The Thing, Platoon, They Live, Dead Presidents, Armageddon, There's Something About Mary, Requiem for a Dream, Barbershop, Crash, Cloud Atlas, Nope, and American Fiction.
On television, he played Bishop James Greenleaf on OWN's Greenleaf from 2016 to 2020. In 2026, he co-stars in FX's The Lowdown.
Voice Acting
Voice work may be his most visible income stream. He has voiced animated characters, TV series, and major video games. His voice is so recognizable that studios hire him for authority, menace, and warmth. More on this below.
Narration and Voice-Over Work
David is a frequent collaborator of filmmaker Ken Burns. He has narrated documentary work including Jackie Robinson, The War, Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, Muhammad Ali, and Leonardo da Vinci. He also works in audiobooks and commercials.
Documentary and history programming suits a calm, serious voice, and few voices carry that weight better.
Theater and Stage Performances
David trained at the High School of Performing Arts and Juilliard, and theater was his foundation. Stage work pays less than film, but it built the craft that studios later paid for. He earned a Tony nomination for Seven Guitars and has portrayed Nat King Cole on stage.
Keith David's Acting Career
Early Career and Theater
David earned his BFA at Juilliard in 1979. He began working professionally in the late 1970s and toured the country in theater productions in the early 1980s. He also appeared in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
His film debut came soon after, and he moved from stage to screen without losing the discipline theater teaches.
Breakthrough Film Roles
- The Thing (1982): As Childs, he held his own against Kurt Russell in John Carpenter's horror classic. This started his on-screen career.
- Platoon (1986): As King, he gave Oliver Stone's war drama one of its most memorable supporting performances.
- They Live (1988): As Frank Armitage, he anchored Carpenter's sci-fi satire opposite Roddy Piper, including its famously long alley fight.
Major Movies
David is a favorite for roles that need presence. He appeared in Armageddon and There's Something About Mary in 1998, then played in Barbershop, Crash, and Cloud Atlas. In Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, he played the Imam. More recent films include Nope and American Fiction.
Character actors like David often work in many projects at once, a pattern also seen in Tim Roth's net worth story.
Television Career
On Greenleaf, David played a powerful church patriarch alongside Lynn Whitfield. On Community, he played Elroy Patashnik in season six. He has also appeared on Abbott Elementary and The Good Lord Bird, and he stars in The Lowdown.
Keith David's Voice Acting Career
Voice acting is a core part of why people search for him. Many fans know him first as a voice.
Goliath in Gargoyles
In Gargoyles (1994 to 1997), David voiced Goliath, the stone-skinned leader of a gargoyle clan. The performance is a fan favorite. It made him a voice-acting name in animation years before video game fans knew him.
Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog
In Disney's 2009 film, David voiced Dr. Facilier, the smooth, scheming "Shadow Man." The role let him show off his singing voice as well as his menace.
Keith David's Video Game Roles
His game work is huge. Notable roles include:
- Halo: The Arbiter, Thel 'Vadamee, in the franchise from 2004 to 2015.
- Mass Effect: Captain, later Admiral, David Anderson.
- Saints Row: Julius Little, and a version of himself in Saints Row IV.
- Destiny: Commander Zavala in Destiny 2: The Final Shape (2024), taking over after the death of Lance Reddick.
Other Animation and Voice Roles
He voiced the Cat in Coraline and has credits on DuckTales, Central Park, and Summer Camp Island. He has also voiced Spawn in Mortal Kombat 11 and Grimlock in Transformers: EarthSpark.
Keith David's Most Famous Roles
| Character/Role | Production | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Childs | The Thing | Film |
| King | Platoon | Film |
| Frank Armitage | They Live | Film |
| Goliath | Gargoyles | Animation |
| Dr. Facilier | The Princess and the Frog | Animation |
| The Arbiter | Halo | Video game |
| Captain Anderson | Mass Effect | Video game |
Keith David's Awards and Career Achievements
- Emmys: Three Emmys for voice-over work on Jackie Robinson, The War, and Unforgivable Blackness, per the Hollywood Walk of Fame announcement.
- Theater: A Tony nomination for Seven Guitars.
- Walk of Fame: On June 4, 2026, his 70th birthday, he received the 2,847th star, in the Motion Pictures category. It sits next to Nat King Cole's.
- Range: He has built a career across film, television, animation, games, narration, and music. He released a jazz album in February 2026.
Keith David's Personal Life
Keith David's Wife
David married actress and singer Dionne Lea Williams in 2001. He was previously married to Margit Edwards from 1990 to 1999. At his Walk of Fame announcement, he called his wife his greatest supporter.
Keith David's Family
He has three children. Two daughters, Ruby and Maelea, were born in 2001 and 2004, according to published biographies.
Keith David's Age and Early Life
David was born June 4, 1956, in Harlem, New York City, and turned 70 in 2026. He sang in a city-wide boys' choir as a kid before heading to the High School of Performing Arts and Juilliard.
Keith David's Career Beyond Acting
Narration and Documentary Work
His documentary narration deserves its own mention because it is where he has won his Emmys. Work with Ken Burns shows how a voice can carry history, and it also brings steady income.
Mentorship and Advocacy
Public records on formal mentorship programs are thin, so I won't claim more than the sources support. What is documented is his deep tie to the arts: a classical Juilliard background, stage work honoring Black musical legends like Nat King Cole, and a lifelong commitment to craft. His Walk of Fame ceremony drew longtime collaborators, including Lynn Whitfield and John Carpenter, a sign of how many people he has worked with over the years.
Conclusion
Keith David's $5 million estimate is modest next to a leading-man star, but it fits a working actor who built wealth over nearly five decades. The better story is the work: the Emmys, the games, the stage, and a Walk of Fame star at 70.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Keith David's net worth in 2026?
About $5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Other sites give different numbers, so treat it as an estimate.
How did Keith David make his money?
Through decades of film, TV, voice acting, narration, and theater work.
What is Keith David famous for?
His deep voice and roles in The Thing, Platoon, and They Live, plus characters like Goliath, the Arbiter, and Dr. Facilier.
Is Keith David a voice actor?
Yes. He is one of the best-known voice actors working today, in animation, games, and documentaries.
What movies has Keith David been in?
Among many others: The Thing, Platoon, They Live, Armageddon, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop, Crash, Cloud Atlas, Nope, and American Fiction.
What characters has Keith David voiced?
Goliath, Dr. Facilier, the Arbiter, Captain Anderson, Julius Little, Commander Zavala, and the Cat in Coraline.
Is Keith David the voice of Goliath?
Yes. He voiced Goliath in Disney's Gargoyles.
What video games has Keith David appeared in?
Halo, Mass Effect, Saints Row, Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Dissidia Final Fantasy, among others.
Is Keith David still acting?
Yes. He co-stars in The Lowdown and has My New Friend Jim upcoming.
