For Reginald Waller Jr., creativity has never been a hobby—it has always been a way of life.
A 2012 graduate of Central High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Waller has transformed a lifelong love of cartoons, anime, art, and storytelling into a growing career as a voice actor, comic creator, and entrepreneur. Today, the Alabama native is earning recognition for his work with nationally known brands while continuing to build original creative projects of his own.
Long before he stepped into a recording booth, Waller was entertaining friends and classmates with impressions and character voices. His fascination with cartoons and anime inspired him to mimic the personalities he watched on screen, often becoming the class clown because of his ability to make people laugh.
Years later, he decided to give voice acting a serious try. Once he recorded his first voice-over project in March 2020, he quickly realized he had found his calling.
“I immediately fell in love with it,” Waller said.
What started as a creative experiment soon became a professional pursuit. Through networking, relationship building, and developing a strong portfolio, Waller began landing opportunities that expanded his reach and reputation within the industry.
Today, his voice can be heard in projects for major brands including DoorDash, Lyft, Gymshark, Brown Bottling Group, Goodr Sunglasses, Big Chicken, Clean Juice, and others. He also added a feature film credit to his résumé with his work on the 2023 film Undefiled.
While voice acting has become a major part of his professional life, Waller’s artistic journey began years earlier. During his senior year of high school, he started taking visual art more seriously, drawing inspiration from anime, comic books, and his own experiences.
His artwork often blends elements of Black culture and nerd culture, creating pieces that reflect identities not always represented in traditional media.
“My inspiration comes from mixing the Black experience with the nerd experience,” he explained.
One of his earliest examples of that vision was a piece titled Anime Boyz in the Hood, which he created while in the 11th grade. More recently, he attended the African American Comic Expo, connecting with fellow artists and creators who share similar passions.
Waller’s creativity extends beyond voice acting and illustration. He is also the creator of Ramen Shaman, an original comic series that has grown into multiple published books, merchandise, and branded apparel. Through the project, he has been able to combine storytelling, artwork, and entrepreneurship into a single creative universe.
Waller works all of his creative endeavors outside of voiceover under his brand, “Not So Starved Artist.”
The name emerged from a phrase artists hear all too often—that pursuing creativity means struggling financially.
“People always say you’re going to be a starving artist,” Waller said. “But I haven’t gone hungry.”
For him, the phrase serves as a reminder that artists should pursue their passions with confidence and determination rather than fear.
Whether he’s creating artwork, recording voice-overs, or developing new stories, Waller approaches every project with energy, professionalism, and a signature style that reflects his personality.
His advice for aspiring creatives is simple:
“Start. You can make it better later. Don’t get caught up trying to make everything perfect.”
As his career continues to grow, Waller remains thankful for everyone who has supported his journey.
“It means the world that people support me,” he said. “And thanks in advance to future supporters.”
Working from a professional home studio in Alabama, Waller continues to establish himself as one of the region’s rising creative talents. Through hard work, passion, and a willingness to bet on himself, he is proving that success often begins by simply taking the first step.
To learn more about Reginald Waller Jr.’s work and to shop his brand, visit: http://www.reggiewallervo.com and notsostarvedartist.com.
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