Days Gone was Duerte’s only role in a video game. Outside of the video game industry, Duarte had a long career as a film and TV actor. His last film, Nothing Ever Happened, is currently in post-production.
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According to the Portuguese news site SIC Notícias, Duarte died of a heart attack. In response to the news, SIE Bend Studio’s lead open-world developer Eric Jensen expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating that Duarte “was the voice of Deacon” for many Portuguese players and fans. PlayStation Portugal also paid tribute with a tweet that thanked Duarte and called him a hero “forever.” Several Days Gone fans responded with their own thoughts in the comments. Notably, American voice actor Sam Witwer, who played Deacon, also paid tribute in a Twitter response.
With his death, Duarte leaves behind a long legacy of excellent work. He made his TV debut in 1999, and won his first movie role in 2001. His work on the 2015 film The Invisible Life won him a Portuguese Golden Globe. Had he continued working in the video game industry, Duarte might have seen similar success as a voice actor. Outside of his role in the award-winning Days Gone, the voice actor had a bright future ahead of him.
If Days Gone 2 is ever developed, SIE Bend Studios will need to recast the role of Deacon St. John. But Filipe Duarte’s work on the PS4 exclusive will not be forgotten. While Duarte’s death is tragic, fans can find the actor’s talent in his past work. When the community celebrates “Days Gone Week” from April 20-26, hopefully, developers and fans alike will take some time to remember Duarte’s contribution to the game.
Days Gone is available exclusively on PlayStation 4.
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Source: SIC Notícias
