Sterling Archer

Sterling Malory Archer is a fictional character on the American adult animated sitcom Archer, which aired on the basic cable network FX from 2009 to 2017 and is currently broadcast on sister network FXX. Conceived by Adam Reed as the comedy's main protagonist, Sterling is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin. Reed was expected to play the role in the show's original pilot, but was recast because producers felt his voice-over was not suitable for the character's dialogue. Sterling debuted in the first episode of Archer, "Mole Hunt", on September 17, 2009. Inspired by James Bond, Sterling appears in early seasons of Archer as the narcissistic, womanizing secret agent of the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a fictional New York-based intelligence service headed by his mother Malory (Jessica Walter). His narcissism, sharp sense of humor and complex relationships with his peers serve as important aspects of his character. Archer's subsequent years see Sterling take on different occupations and personae as the show experiments with new ideas, character arcs and self-contained narratives. Archer's characterization of Sterling, and Benjamin's performance of the character, have been well received by the media. Benjamin has received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy nomination and an Annie Award nomination, for outstanding achievement in voice acting