Arby’s | Who is the Actor That Does the Arby’s Commercials?

Who is the Actor That Does the Arby’s Commercials?

A look at the deep voice behind the slogan, the face we finally saw, and how Arby’s uses talent in its ads

(By Carmichael Phillip)

If you’ve ever heard the booming, gravelly line “We have the meats,” there’s a good chance you were listening to Ving Rhames. For roughly a decade Rhames has served as the iconic off-screen voice for Arby’s advertising — the deep, authoritative tone that helped turn a simple tagline into a cultural earworm. His voice became so associated with the brand that, for many viewers, the sound of a sandwich ad immediately read as “Arby’s.”

Why the choice of Rhames makes sense: his voice carries gravitas and a little theatrical flair — traits that make even a fast-food pitch feel cinematic. The line “We have the meats” is short, punchy, and oddly dignified when delivered by an actor who’s played larger-than-life characters in films and television. That contrast (serious voice + playful product) is part of the ad magic.

In 2024–2025 Arby’s moved beyond leaving Rhames off-camera: the studio finally put the “meats” voice in front of the camera. For the first time in many years of campaign work, the actor appeared on-screen for promotional events tied to big pushes such as Free Sandwich Month and March Madness. The move was a self-aware moment — a brand acknowledging the voice people recognized and making it literal by letting the actor step into view.

That reveal did two things simultaneously: it rewarded long-time viewers with a payoff (the man behind the voice actually exists), and it refreshed the creative playbook by giving the campaign a new visual hook without changing the message. It’s a familiar marketing beat: build recognition with sound, then amplify with a reveal.

Although Ving Rhames is the marquee voice, Arby’s historically taps a handful of actors, comedians, and performers depending on the ad series. For example, past campaigns introduced concept characters (like the fictitious “Head of Sandwiches”) played by H. Jon Benjamin — a different creative direction that leaned on dry humor and character performance rather than epic voiceover.

More recently, Arby’s has leaned into short-run collaborations and celebrity tie-ins for product launches. In 2025, for instance, comedians Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer were front-and-center for a campaign around new smoked BBQ sandwiches — a creative play that combines product credibility (celebrities who are known for their love of barbecue) with comedic energy. These are different creative tools in Arby’s chest: the resonant voiceover for brand identity, star talent for product partnerships, and character actors for campaign storytelling.

Having one consistent voice actor — especially one as recognizable as Ving Rhames — does heavy lifting for a brand. It creates sonic branding: a short audio cue that immediately triggers recognition. In advertising, sound can be faster and stickier than images; a single audio signature can travel across channels, platforms, and even international markets more easily than a visual motif. When that voice is an award-winning movie actor, the association carries prestige.

From a practical perspective, booking a single voice actor for long periods also helps with continuity across campaigns: consumers hear the same tone and cadence whether they’re seeing a TV commercial, a radio spot, or an online pre-roll. Even when the actor later appears on camera, the familiarity built by the voice softens the transition from purely audio to full audio-visual presence.

Arby’s creative strategy tends to oscillate between three poles: humor (to make ads shareable), culinary credibility (to suggest quality meats), and bold personality (to stand out in the crowded fast-food landscape). Casting choices reflect these aims. A gravelly, commanding voice evokes meat authority; comedians or familiar faces bring shareable jokes; and occasionally a character actor carries an eccentric storyline. The combination helps Arby’s speak to both foodies and casual diners.

This balancing act also explains why the brand will both (a) keep a single recognizable voice for brand equity and (b) bring in different actors or stars for product pushes. The voice is the brand’s constant; the on-screen talent is the momentary accelerator.

Public reaction to the “We have the meats” voice — and to the later reveal of Ving Rhames on camera — has been lively. Many viewers delighted in finally seeing the person behind the sound; others joked that the reveal felt overdue given how often the voice played on television. The internet’s mix of nostalgia and meme culture has kept the tune and tagline alive, often independent of any single commercial’s storyline.

That kind of cultural resonance is valuable: an ad line that becomes a meme or shorthand in conversation gains earned media beyond paid airtime. For Arby’s, the voice — and the occasional celebrity partnership — has helped maintain relevance in a category where attention is fleeting and competition is fierce.

Arby’s casting choices show a pragmatic approach to advertising: pick the right voice to create recognition, then layer in on-screen talent or guest stars to amplify product launches. Whether Ving Rhames continues as the sonic anchor or Arby’s experiments more with on-screen faces, the principle remains the same — talent should serve the message. When a brand leans too hard on a celebrity, the focus can drift away from the food; when it relies solely on anonymous footage, it might struggle to break through. Arby’s has found a middle path: a commanding voice plus rotating visual collaborators.

Conclusion

So — who is the actor that does the Arby’s commercials? The short, most useful answer is: Ving Rhames is primarily the voice behind Arby’s most famous line, and in 2024–2025 he even stepped in front of the camera for select promotional spots; however, Arby’s also hires other performers (from character actors like H. Jon Benjamin to celebrity collaborators like Anthony Anderson and Cedric the Entertainer) depending on the creative need. The brand uses voice for continuity and celebrities for momentary amplification — a two-pronged approach that helps Arby’s stay both recognizable and timely.

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