David Menkin (born 10 May 1977[2]) is a Norwegian-born American actor.[3][4] His best known for his voice roles as Porter and Jack in the US dub of Thomas & Friends (2013–2021) and as Virgil and Gordon Tracy in the 2015 reboot series Thunderbirds Are Go (2015–2020).
Menkin was born to a Norwegian mother and an American father in Moss,[5] where he partially spent his childhood before the family moved to Benin to partake in Saga Petrolium's oil drilling in West Africa. In a 2018 radio interview, he stated that the bi-cultural upbringing made "a great impression" on him.[6][7] As an adolescent, their family moved to London.[8] He attended New York University and graduated in 1999 from Mountview Theatre School in London, where he still lives and works as an actor.[9][10]
Career
In 2001, Menkin had a minor role for the television film Wit.[11]
For many years he was provided the announcer voice for the Norwegian TV channel TV3.[13]
He was a member of Thomas & Friends's voice cast from 2013 until 2021 where he voiced Porter and Jack in the US version. He also voiced Stanley for Season 19 only, which was passed on to Rob Rackstraw and John Schwab. He was also asked to voice the title role of Thomas for the US version after Martin Sherman's departure from the series, but he passed on the offer, citing support for Sherman, so it passed on to Joseph May instead. From 2015, he voiced Virgil and Gordon Tracy in the rebooted Thunderbirds Are Go television series. In 2017, Menkin provided the voice for Chuck, who was one of Space Chickens in Space's lead characters.[14]
On the Norwegian TV series Lykkeland, Menkin plays Jackson. The series premiered on NRK and DR1 October 2018.[15] Lykkeland won Best Script and Best Music at Canneseries in April of the same year.[16][17] Menkin stated that his role on Lykkeland was his "first proper Norwegian acting job".[7]
Personal life
He speaks English and Norwegian.[9] Menkin is gay.[18]
