Character Spotlight #29-Benjamin Bayu (#2 Villain Series)
In this Character Spotlight, learn about Benjamin Bayu and Kirk Thornton, the voice behind Benjamin Bayu.
Meet Benjamin Bayu
Benjamin Bayu is the charismatic, calculating magnate who presides over Neon with a mix of polished charm and shark-like pragmatism. As the founder and CEO of Xenofresh Corporation, Bayu transformed a half-abandoned fishing platform on Volii Alpha into the pulsating pleasure city that thrives on Aurora, vice, and high-end tourism. He cultivates an image of suave benevolence, but beneath the surface he’s an opportunist who built his empire by leveraging political favors, corporate muscle, and a keen understanding of human desire.
Bayu’s influence stretches far beyond Neon’s shimmering lights—he quietly shapes trade, governance, and underworld dynamics across the Volii system. While he rarely dirties his own hands, he knows exactly how to make others do it for him, rewarding loyalty generously and punishing betrayal with calculated efficiency.
In the Settled Systems, Benjamin Bayu is proof that power doesn’t always come from force—sometimes it comes from knowing precisely what people want and how much they’re willing to pay for it.
Meet Kirk Thornton
Kirk Thornton is an American voice actor, ADR director, and scriptwriter whose career spans decades of prolific work in animation, video games, and English-language dubbing. Trained in acting at the University of Washington and seasoned through extensive theater work, he later transitioned into voice-over, becoming known for his rich, resonant voice and his ability to portray everything from stoic warriors to unhinged comic relief.
Thornton’s video game credits include major roles such as Shadow the Hedgehog in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, Saïx (Isa) in the Kingdom Hearts series, and as Benjamin Bayu in Starfield. He’s also contributed voices in other major games such as Resident Evil 6, Binary Domain, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (and subsequent Special/Anniversary Edition re-releases), Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 5: Royal, and many more.
In animation and anime, he is widely recognized for characters like Brandon Heat in Gungrave, Jin in Samurai Champloo, Klein in Sword Art Online, Don Patch in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and Hajime Saito in Rurouni Kenshin.
Alongside acting, Thornton has a substantial career as a director and script adapter, shaping the English versions of many well-known anime series and games. With an output that spans well over 250 game credits and countless animated roles, he remains one of the most established and versatile voices in the industry.
About the author
I'm a gamer gal who loves Starfield. My main explorer is Michaela Roriston. Aside from taking lots of photos during exploration adventures, I also write Starfield fanfic.
Those works can be found here: Starfield Mori series on AO3
I also admin one of the best Facebook Starfield groups out there. We're a small and friendly group of gamers. The Starfield Pals group is small but one of the most active groups. We're always welcoming new friendly explorers. Come join us! Starfield Pals
Though he's clearly a villain, he makes the distinction that he hates working with pirates because of their general lack of subtlety. I loved that the writers included that in the Crimson Fleet quest line. I wish he had been included in the Neon street gang side quests - even if it was to just point out how lowly and beneath him they were in his mind.