Any regular reader of HE knows of my love for the craft of voice acting and voice over, and my respect for the artists that bring our favorite characters and movie trailers to life. So it’s no surprise that the passing of Don LaFontaine has saddened me deeply.
He was a master voice over artist that helped define the movie going experience for multiple generations of film fans. His unmistakable “chainsaw through gravel” baritone could deftly shift from evoking terror to inciting laughter. He voiced more than 5000 movie trailers over the last 40 years and spawned a slew of sound-alike imitators. Despite these accomplishments as a VO artist, I find his personal story equally laudable. This was a guy that could write his own ticket and for that I respect him all the more. When he got tired of going to the studios (in his limo), he made the studios come to him. He set up a home studio and took remote cues from directors miles away. He commanded a million dollars per film, yet remained humble calling himself, “the luckiest man on earth.”
In honor of Mr. LaFontaine, I suggest each September 1st be designated “Talk Like Don Day.” When you order your pizza, or check out at the grocery store through in a few “in a world’s” and “one man’s” here and there. I also suggest we officially coin the phrase “graveltas” (gravel + gravitas) when referring to the way the man spoke.
Here’s to you, Don. Godspeed, you fancy bastard.
PS
No Castcast this week. All the Gearbox peoples will be at a company sponsored alcohol trough.
Probably the best-drawn comic I've seen here so far. It looks GREAT! Either you put some extra effort in here, or it just came naturally. Either way, color me impressed! Oh, and of course, great comic too.
I gotta tell you man. After hearing about the story of Don Lafontaine, I will never again see voice acting as an unlucrative career.
Am girl, so can't do LaFontaine voice. Can, however, go to youtube and watch the original T2 theatrical trailer. Bye, bye, Don. In a world where action fans are starved for good content, one girl knew car crashes and uzis were guaranteed when you voiced the trailer.
Panel 3 ought to be a wallpaper. -Though maybe with some hanging-outedness, just to spice up that sexy pie. -And maybe some blood too. Blood on the hanging-outedness. Well, maybe not. Maybe another knife sticking out of the hanging-outedness?
Yes, well… but I wonder why he wasn't in the car with the others, yet "appeared" on the phone, and then it turned out Don was actually talking to Al Somethingsomething, not Hal Douglas.
Ho hum.
dude I always wear no drawers.
its good to take some time off every once in a while. Lets us recharge and come back with new enthusiasm.
I assume they were rivals.
"Douglas is known in the film industry as the "In a world …" guy because many of his trailers have begun with these words, and his voice has immortalized them (although the late Don LaFontaine claims to have actually created the catchphrase)"
im guessing they will just start shifting his work to the 4 other guys that do "the voice."
extra effort was the culprit. glad you liked it.
he did a few upbeat movie and comedy trailers to. it was the same voice, just less menacing.
"THIS SUMMER! HE MIGHT BE OUT OF THE CLOSET, BUT HE'S PROBABLY IN YOURS!"
i think josh would appreciate the comparison. He's a huge Dexter fan.
Ok, i never knew who this guy was, but the only thing here is that i need that image of josh licking a knife in a wallpaper! and as im 13 i cant buy the subscriptions to the fancy Vault (hahah iinvented that nick) so i need it free
holy shit…….. the author is everytime more geek, and probably more crazy……
without sounding negative if you're only 13 then technically you shouldn't be here…
Yeah I think I am going to make that the next Vault wallpaper.
That probably will be the next wallpaper, but it will be in the Vault. Theres plenty of free entertainment here for you to enjoy.
"technically" is the magic word…………..
I'm totally celebrating this. I already confuse the hell out of people during Talk Like a Pirate Day—why not add another? 🙂
Did anybody else instantly hear his voice in your head as soon as you saw the words “in a a world”?