Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Legendary voice-over artist Don LaFontaine passes at 68

This is topic Legendary voice-over artist Don LaFontaine passes at 68 in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-01-2008, 10:38 PM:

Probably better know as that trailer voice that says "In a World" a lot. There are many immitators, but only one original.

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/64990/index.html

quote:

Voiceover Master Don LaFontaine has died. He was 68.

LaFontaine, far right, is pictured above with ET's Mark Steines and Mary Hart, and fellow voiceover artist Randy Thomas.

LaFontaine, known as the "King of Voiceovers," died Monday afternoon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. LaFontaine's agent, Vanessa Gilbert, tells ET that he passed away following complications from Pneumothorax, the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity, the result of a collapsed lung. The official cause of death has not yet been released.

Over the past 25 years, LaFontaine cemented his position as the "King of Voiceovers." Aside from being the preeminent voice in the movie trailer industry, Don also worked as the voice of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, as well as for CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and UPN, in addition to TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network. By conservative estimates, he voiced hundreds of thousands of television and radio spots, including commercials for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Ford, Budweiser, McDonalds, Coke, and many other corporate sponsors.

He recently parodied himself on a series of national television commercials for Geico. At last count, he has worked on nearly 5000 films, including appearances as the in-show announcer for the Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards. Based on contracts signed, he has the distinction of being perhaps the single busiest actor in the history of SAG. Don is survived by his wife -- singer/actress Nita Whitaker, and three children: Christine, Skye and Elyse.

YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg

[ 09-02-2008, 02:03 AM: Message edited by: Mike Olpin ]

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 09-01-2008, 10:53 PM:

A likely unknown film legend gone... Without those GEICO commercials, I'd be willing to bet that *most* folks wouldn't know who he was...

RIP Don... RIP...

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-02-2008, 12:44 AM:

quote: Mike Olpin
LaFontaine, far right, is pictured above with ET's Mark Steines and Mary Hart, and fellow voiceover artist Randy Thomas.

Oh?

Anyway he had a great sense of humor.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 09-02-2008, 01:04 AM:

[Eek!]

What a shock... just 68! OMG. I know a lot of guys looked up to him, he certainly set the standard.

A legend has passed.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 09-02-2008, 01:44 AM:

Holy cow, what a bummer.

This continues to be one of my favorite videos of all time.

RIP.

[Frown]

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 09-02-2008, 02:04 AM:

Fixed it just for you Joe.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-02-2008, 02:22 AM:

Thank you. I was getting fidgety without it.

Posted by Edwin Schwing (Member # 1270) on 09-02-2008, 02:41 AM:

IN A WORLD,

Complete with TRULY AMAZING THINGS!

MEET

EDWIN SCHWING

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-02-2008, 04:19 AM:

That's a damn shame.

Rest in peace, Don.

Posted by Damien Taylor (Member # 4255) on 09-02-2008, 05:16 AM:

What a shock, this guy was a pro. He added that little extra something to trailers. He will be missed by those in the know, but probably also by the movie going masses who will no longer hear his dominant growl.

Posted by Alan Plester (Member # 852) on 09-02-2008, 05:35 AM:

Finally, can put a face to the voice that was bugging me for years. Very sorry to hear the news, trailers will never be the same again, R I P

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-02-2008, 07:16 AM:

Another great loss. And much too young.

5 GUYS IN A LIMO is one of my favorite videos of all time.

I'm sure there is someone out there who can sound exactly like Don, much as Corey Burton sometimes does a perfect Paul Frees.

Don, you will be missed by those of us in the darkened room.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 09-02-2008, 07:50 AM:

quote:
Pneumothorax, the presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity, the result of a collapsed lung. The official cause of death has not yet been released.

A very unusual way to die I might add. RIP Don.

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 09-02-2008, 09:41 AM:

Actually a pneumothorax is much more common than you would think. It's a common complication of various procedures in the hospital (like if you had fluid around the lung that needed to be removed and the needle went slightly too far). Though I imagine for him to have died from it he must've not gotten medical attention very early in the ordeal.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 09-02-2008, 10:29 AM:

quote:
fellow voiceover artist Randy Thomas.

FWIW, she's the one who did the "1-800-A-B-C-D-E-F-G" spots...

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 09-02-2008, 05:17 PM:

I spent 28 years as a radio broadcaster and always admired Don's voice. I wish I had his type of voice. He'll be missed. RIP Don.

Posted by Jesse Skeen (Member # 586) on 09-03-2008, 07:06 AM:

So anyone have a complete list of EVERY trailer he ever did?

Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 09-10-2008, 11:34 AM:

I've been told countless times that I have a great speaking voice and have always wanted to do voice over work, either for the movies or as a public address announcer for an MLB team, but I don't have any clue how to jump into that field of work. Maybe when I finish mortuary school in December I'll look into it. I have always looked up to the big Hollywood voices like Don's and James Earl jones.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 09-10-2008, 06:36 PM:

quote: Christian Volpi
have always wanted to do voice over work, either for the movies or as a public address announcer for an MLB team

Those are gigs you work up to, and competition is fierce. A key to getting hired, however, is not only having a good voice... but being able to "sound natural" when you're on-mic and reading copy. This is considerably different from day to day conversation, and involves things like breath control and acting ability.

And even Don LaFontaine had to be in the right place at the right time. [Smile]

Regardless, there are plenty of good books on the subject.

(FWIW, I used to voice promos, commercials, PSAs, and liners for many broadcast stations over the years, and some of my own film trailer work... so I know a little bit of what I'm talking.) [Wink]