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mojo
09-02-2008, 06:09 AM
link (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/09/02/don-lafontaine-the-voice-of-movie-trailers-dies-at-68.aspx)


Don LaFontaine, the voice of movie trailers, dies at 68
Posted: September 02, 2008, 7:35 AM by Mark Medley



Don LaFontaine, the voice of movie trailers, dies at 68
Posted: September 02, 2008, 7:35 AM by Mark Medley
Movies, news

You may not recognize the name Don LaFontaine but you definitely know the voice.

LaFontaine, who passed away Monday at the age of 68, was THE voice of movie trailers for almost 30 years.

The Minnesota-born LaFontaine reportedly voiced over 5,000 trailers and almost 350,000 commercials. He's responsible for the ubiquitous trailer-opening phrase "In a world..."

From his website:

Over the past 25 years, LaFontaine cemented his position as the "King of Voice-overs." Aside from his continuing work in the trailer industry, he has also been the voice of NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and UPN, in addition to TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network. By conservative estimates, he has voiced hundreds of thousands of television and radio spots, including commercials for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Ford, Budweiser, McDonalds, Coke, and many other corporate sponsors. 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.



visit link for a trailer with his distinct voice-over

thresher
09-02-2008, 06:59 PM
This loss will be felt for years to come. It is sad to think that kids born today won't know that deep baritone voice - In A World...

Good stuff and he'll be missed. :(

uncledaddy
09-02-2008, 11:57 PM
Oh man. Sad. :(

ArkiStan
09-03-2008, 12:38 AM
This summer....R.I.P.

Kevster
09-04-2008, 07:08 AM
This was very sad to read. What are movie trailers going to be like now, in a world where Don LaFontaine no longer lives? :(

DarkFury
09-04-2008, 10:17 AM
<Lafontaine voice>

In a world, without announcement trailers.... ONE voice is missing.

R.I.P. Don Lafontaine.

And the saga continues... in the afterlife. JUDGEMENT DAY... because this time, they'll get their payback.

</Lafontaine voice>

DaFunkyUnit
09-06-2008, 10:16 AM
One man... One voice...


definitely will be missed.

Kevster
09-06-2008, 03:23 PM
Some more on Don LaFontaine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg&feature=related

I love this - he would do people's voicemail messages for them. :heh:

5 guys in a limo (when he was a bit younger):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRtuxdfQHw

What's I found funny is with the post-effects houses they mention near the end - I did network engineering work with about half of them at some time or other before I left that job.

nate el bueno
09-07-2008, 10:50 AM
I was about to say something about the "In a world..." but 200 people beat me to it. Of all the friends I had including me who tried to imitate it, no one came close

nate el bueno
09-07-2008, 10:52 AM
HAHAHAHA Kevster-
I just watched that video
"And I discovered I could be everybody's dad. 'Jimmy can't come to school today.'"

thresher
09-10-2008, 06:22 PM
I just heard a Mitsu ad with him in it - I was browsing online with Mythbusters on and I heard "In a world...."
Sad. He will be missed for years to come.
Thresh