Background and career
Khary Payton (born May 16, 1972) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as King Ezekiel on the AMC horror drama series The Walking Dead (2016–2022), as well as voicing Cyborg across various DC media and Kaldur'ahm / Aqualad in the animated series Young Justice (2010–2013; 2019–2022).
Payton was born in Augusta, Georgia. At the age of 14, he won Showtime's first annual Kid Talent Quest, and a recording exists of him introducing an animated film called Sherlock Holmes in the Baskerville Curse broadcast on Showtime in September 1986.
Payton appeared on a recurring basis as Dr. Terrell Jackson on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. He portrayed King Ezekiel on AMC's The Walking Dead.
Payton has voiced Cyborg in both Teen Titans animated series and Aqualad in Young Justice, reprising his role in Teen Titans Go!. Payton has also voiced Cyborg and Doomsday in Injustice: Gods Among Us, as well as Cyborg and Grid in Injustice 2. In the animated series Justice League, Payton provided the voice of the villain Ten from the Royal Flush Gang. He also provided the voice of Drebin in the game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Ripcord in G.I. Joe: Renegades, Blade in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Grimlock in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Harold McBride in The Loud House (replacing Wayne Brady), Quinn Derringer in République, Killer Croc in Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Underworld, and Batman: Arkham Shadow, Wasabi in Big Hero 6: The Series and Kingdom Hearts III (replacing Damon Wayans Jr.) and the current voice of Rafiki in The Lion King franchise (replacing the late Robert Guillaume).
Payton has three children. He married Linda Braddock in 2001, and they divorced in 2009. He married Stacey Reed in 2010 and they filed for divorce in 2019. He has two children with Reed.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
