# Commander Shepard’s Actor Accidentally Immortalized One Mass Effect Race

> Mark Meer’s Steve Buscemi impression became the sound of Mass Effect’s salarians.
- Title: Commander Shepard’s Actor Accidentally Immortalized One Mass…
- Summary: Mark Meer’s Steve Buscemi impression became the sound of Mass Effect’s salarians.
- Keywords: mass effect, commander shepard, steve buscemi, salarian, bioware, mark meer, jade empire, baldur's gate, kotor, raphael sbarge, kaidan alenko, paragon
- Source: Polygon — https://polygon.com/mass-effect-commander-shepard-mark-meer-interview
- Author: Austin Manchester
- Published: 2026-11-07T21:00:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: mass effect, commander shepard, steve buscemi, salarian, bioware, mark meer, jade empire, baldur's gate, kotor, raphael sbarge, kaidan alenko, paragon
## Mark Meer’s role in Mass Effect
Mark Meer voiced Commander Shepard in BioWare’s Mass Effect series after starting with Baldur’s Gate 2.

> i did one line in baldur's gate 2, and then subsequently, bioware just kept hiring me for every subsequent project leading up to the mass effect trilogy
## Salarian sound design
Meer created a Steve Buscemi impression for salarians, which became the species’ defining vocal pattern.

> i do take credit for the salarians all having the cadence of steve buscemi
## Shepard’s dual casting
Meer and Jennifer Hale both recorded Shepard, with Hale playing the lead role in the game’s final version.

> it was sort of like being told, 'you've been cast in this movie in the lead, and meryl streep will be playing opposite you playing the same character'
## Salarian vocal influence
Meer’s vocal work influenced Jennifer Hale’s lines, with Hale adapting her performance to match his timing.

> the one thing that they did really stress was you have to take the exact same amount of time to say the line
## Paragon and Renegade Shepard
The game’s morality system allows players to create either a Paragon or Renegade Shepard, with distinct personalities.

> i compare a paragon shepard to an upstanding paladin in dungeons & dragons, and a renegade shepard to a sociopath [who's] still saving the galaxy, but not being polite or empathetic about it in any way whatsoever
## Salarian legacy
Meer’s salarian vocal style became a cultural touchstone for Mass Effect’s universe, with fans still engaging with the game.

> the fact that we are still talking about it, that we still have fans that are so passionate about that universe, it is impressive and humbling
## 20th anniversary
Mass Effect’s 20th anniversary approaches, with fans still passionate about the game’s universe.

> next year will be the 20th anniversary of the first mass effect game
## Salarian vocal impact
Meer’s vocal work defined the salarian species, becoming a lasting cultural reference for the game’s universe.

> i do take credit for the salarians all having the cadence of steve buscemi
## Key takeaway

Mark Meer’s Steve Buscemi impression defined Mass Effect’s salarian species, becoming a cultural touchstone for the game’s universe.