The Tragic Real Life Story Of Christopher Judge
Life is looking pretty great for Christopher Judge at the moment. The accomplished voice actor has already had a long and successful career and, most recently, won acclaim for bringing Kratos to life in the new "God of War" games. His moving performance has earned him praise from fans and peers and won him Best Actor at the 2022 Game Awards.
He stole the show at the Game Awards with an acceptance speech that was simultaneously hilarious, thankful, and touching. As a performer and person, he has become one of the most recognizable and popular video game voice-acting figures. His joy and gratitude were evident in his speech, and he's clearly happy with how things have turned out for him. But, It wasn't always like this for Judge.
While he has plenty to be thankful for, at the moment, Judge only got where he is now through years of struggle and hardship. Looking back at some past tragedies shows how hard Christopher Judge had to work and makes his current success all the more meaningful.
Christopher Judge struggled with alcohol
Christopher Judge is doing well now but previously struggled with alcoholism and getting sober. Speaking on a panel of African Americans working in sci-fi, he showed vulnerability in sharing his past challenges with the other panelists and the public.
Judge revealed that his drinking became so problematic that he received two DUIs and was ordered to enter a rehab program. This program turned out to be the best thing that could have happened for him. Judge explained, "DUIs saved my life," saying he spent six years in what was initially meant to be 12 and then 18-month programs. After confronting his drinking, and with the support of one woman in the program, Judge has been gratefully sober since 2012.
While his struggle with drinking marked a dark chapter in his life, confronting this issue was one of the best things that ever happened to Judge. In addition to helping him get sober, it also improved his mental health, making him – as he says – a happier person, better able to give and receive love.
Further, his newfound sobriety seems to have been a turning point for his career. Judge proudly stated, "My first audition being sober was 'God of War,'" marking a new chapter in his personal and professional life.
Judge struggled to find work after Stargate SG-1
Around the same time Christopher Judge struggled with alcohol, he was also struggling to find acting roles. While he had previously been a significant part of the popular show, "Stargate SG-1," he discovered his résumé didn't impress casting directors as much as he'd hoped it would.
During the same panel in which he discussed his alcoholism, he also explained that finding work after "SG-1" was a real challenge. Judge said, "It didn't matter I'd been on TV for ten years. So, it was back to, you know, literally auditioning for three lines," and can be seen in Judge's acting credits after his time on "SG-1." Apart from appearances in other "Stargate" shows and movies, Judge could not land any starring roles in major shows or films. This frustration contributed to his drinking, so Judge found himself part of a vicious cycle in the early 2010s.
This changed in 2018 when Judge landed the part of Kratos in "God of War." Judge almost didn't take the iconic role, not wanting to work in video games, but after being convinced that the story and characters would be treated seriously, he committed to the job, and his career has taken off since then.
Christopher Judge needed multiple surgeries between God of War games
Even after becoming Kratos, winning critical acclaim and a nomination for Best Voice Actor at the 2018 Game Awards, Christopher Judge still had more obstacles to confront.
In the summer of 2021, PlayStation had bad news for fans with an update that "God of War: Ragnarok would be delayed until the following year, to the fans' disappointment. While the explanation for this delay was kept under wraps at the time, Judge later revealed he was the real reason.
It turned out that, between games, Judge had experienced some health issues that required multiple surgeries. Judge tweeted, "Ragnarok was delayed because of me. August 2019, I couldn't walk. Had to have back surgery, both hips replaced, and, knee surgery." There was also rehab that followed these procedures. On top of the pain and discomfort, it also put him out of commission for a time and rendered him unable to record his lines or provide motion capture.
Judge displayed considerable courage in revealing these hardships and that he was responsible for delaying something gamers were fervently awaiting. He also expressed gratitude to Santa Monica Studios for supporting him and not laying the blame on his doorstep.
Despite the setback, Judge once again struggled on, recovering from his injuries and giving the performance that won Best Actor at the Game Awards 2022.
Things are looking up for Judge
Christopher Judge's life has been anything but easy since his time on "Stargate SG-1." He's faced considerable adversity and passed through some very dark chapters, both in his private life and in the spotlight of his career. Yet, in a testament to his drive and bravery, he's weathered all of these setbacks and come out the other end stronger and more successful than ever.
He has distinguished himself in his professional life, winning awards and accolades for his performances, and he has undoubtedly cemented himself as an iconic figure in gaming fandom. However, through interviews and speeches, it's clear he has also found peace and happiness in his personal life. While his life has been marked with tragedy, this path has ultimately led him to even more extraordinary accomplishments.
And, of course, on top of all the other accolades he has to be thankful for, Judge even got to meet Al Pacino.