Richard Yearwood is a British-Canadian actor, television host, director and producer, who is best known for providing the voice of

Donkey Kong is a video game series and media franchise created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo. It follows the adventures of Donkey Kong (character), Donkey Kong, a large, powerful gorilla, and other members of the List of Don ...

in ''

Donkey Kong Country ''Donkey Kong Country'', known in Japan as is a 1994 platform game developed by Rare (company), Rare and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is a Reboot (fiction), reboot of Nintendo's ''Donkey Kong'' ...

''.

Career

Yearwood began his acting career in 1980, in the television series ''

The Littlest Hobo ''The Littlest Hobo'' () is the Canadian television series based upon a 1958 American film of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on C ...

'' as Danny McLean. His other recurring roles include, Special Agent Bush in ''

Due South ''Due South'' is a Canadian crime comedy-drama television series created by Paul Haggis, and produced by Alliance Communications from its premiere on April 23, 1994, to its conclusion after four seasons on March 14, 1999. The series starred P ...

'', Mr. Smith in '' Once a Thief'', Jor in ''

Relic Hunter ''Relic Hunter'' is a Canadian adventure television series, starring Tia Carrere and Christien Anholt. It centres on Sydney Fox, a professor who is also a globe-trotting "relic hunter" who looks for ancient artifacts to return to museums and ...

'', Nestov in '' Tracker'' and Benjamin N'Udu in ''

InSecurity Insecure may refer to: * Lack of security, in an objective sense: ** Risk ** Data security ** Computer security * Food insecurity * Insecurity (emotion), lack of confidence or self esteem Media * ''Insecure'' (TV series), a television series ...

''. He also acted in several feature and television films, such as Vincent in '' Unnatural Causes'', Wilson Carlisle in ''X-Rated'', Marco in ''

Down in the Delta ''Down in the Delta'' is a 1998 American-Canadian drama film, directed by Maya Angelou (in her only film directing effort) and starring Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Esther Rolle (in her final film released during her lifetime), Loretta Devin ...

'', Habersham in '' Enslavement: The True Story of Fanny Kemble'', Randy Benson in '' Bojangles'' and Lucius in ''

Blizzard A blizzard is a severe Winter storm, snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow th ...

''. Yearwood had also provided occasional voice over work in animated television shows and video games, most notably the Nintendo character

in the Canadian animated television series ''

'', he also voiced Rick in ''

Dino Crisis is a survival horror and action-adventure video game series created by Shinji Mikami and developed and published by Capcom. The plot focuses on recurring outbreaks of deadly dinosaurs in closed environments, such as a laboratory on an island. T ...

'', J.T. in ''

Swamp Thing Swamp Thing is a superhero and antihero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, the Swamp Thing has had several different incarnations throughout his publication. The ch ...

'' and voiced T-Bear in ''Blood Brothers''. In video games, he did the sounds for Rick in the Dino coliseum unlockable mini-game, but was uncredited. He also voiced President Hamilton in '' True Crime: New York City'' and Stilwater's Resident in ''

Saints Row ''Saints Row'' is a series of action-adventure video games created by Volition and published by THQ and Deep Silver. The series follows the 3rd Street Saints, a fictional street gang originally operating out of the Saints Row district, hence ...

''. He was also the television host of the reality television series ''Date with Design'' and was the co-host of the television series ''Love by Design''. Outside of acting, Yearwood has also worked as a director and producer. He has directed and produced various television shows such as ''

Restaurant Makeover ''Restaurant Makeover'' is a television series on HGTV Canada that currently airs as reruns on the Food Network Canada and ''HGTV Canada'', as well as the Fine Living channel and Food Network in the United States, DTour and in over 16 other co ...

'', ''Marriage Under Construction'', ''Fashion File Host Hunt'', ''Gods of Accident'' and ''

Love It or List It ''Love It or List It'' is a home design TV show starring David Visentin and Page Turner broadcast since 2025 and from 2008 to 2023 with David Visentin and Hilary Farr on HGTV, W Network, and OWN Canada. It is the original show in the ''Love It ...

''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Creative staff

* ''

'' (2006–2007) - Director * ''Green Force'' (2006) - Director * ''Marriage Under Construction'' (2007) - Director, associate producer * ''Fashion File Host Hunt'' (2007) - Director, producer * ''Gods of Accident'' (2010) - Executive producer, producer * ''My Generation'' (2012) - Director * ''Shannon & Sophie'' (2014) - Director * ''

'' (2014–2019) - Director * ''Rock, Paper, Scissors'' (2021) - Director, producer

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Yearwood, Richard Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male video game actors Canadian male voice actors English male film actors English male television actors English male video game actors English male voice actors 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors Living people Black British male actors Black Canadian male actors Canadian people of Nigerian descent English people of Nigerian descent Year of birth missing (living people)