Steve Valentine
A classically trained magician from Scotland whose sly charm and distinctive voice made him a memorable fixture in cult TV and video games.
Born 1966 (age 60)·British actor·Birthday: October 26·Generation X
Biography
Steve Valentine's career is a magic trick in itself, seamlessly blending his first craft—illusion—with a second act as a character actor with a mischievous glint. Born in Bishopbriggs, Scotland, he became a professional magician in his teens, performing on cruise ships and developing a sophisticated, theatrical style. This background in performance and misdirection translated perfectly to screen. He didn't just play roles; he often felt like a charming conman letting the audience in on the secret. His breakout as the eccentric, antique-obsessed medical examiner Nigel Townsend on *Crossing Jordan* showcased his ability to be both quirky and compelling. Valentine found a parallel niche in voice acting, where his rich, slightly sardonic tones brought life to video game characters like the treacherous Harry Flynn in *Uncharted 2* and the witty Alistair in *Dragon Age*. His path reflects a performer who never left the magician's mindset, always keeping a character's true intentions, or a voice's hidden motive, tucked up his sleeve.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the fan-favorite character Nigel Townsend for the entire six-season run of *Crossing Jordan*.
- Voiced the charismatic rogue Alistair in the critically acclaimed video game *Dragon Age: Origins*.
- Served as the host and creative force behind the television magic competition series *Don't Blink*.
Did You Know?
He was the president of the Magic Castle's Junior Society in Hollywood.
He performed magic for the British royal family at the age of 17.
He is a skilled close-up magician and has consulted on magic for films.
“A good trick, like a good scene, hides the mechanics.”
