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General Category => General Talk => Topic started by: UPRC on September 02, 2008, 10:18:51 am

Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: UPRC on September 02, 2008, 10:18:51 am
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.


2008 continues to kill off more and more awesome celebrities. George Carlin, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes.... And now the Lord of the Move Trailers... Don LaFontaine.

I didn't expect this at all, but why would I? As far as I knew, the guy was still going strong and pumping out lots of material. Really sad to see him go. It's going to be awkward not hearing his voice around anymore.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Carrion Crow on September 02, 2008, 10:36:16 am
So are they going to find someone who *sounds* like this guy to do the cheesy dramatic voiceovers or do you think they will move on. Because he really did have a knack of making a movie sound a lot more impressive that it was when you watched the full version.

See now I'm imagining Terry Wogan (brits will know what I'm on about)

R.I.P man with epic voice.

I still maintain that this is the death topic forum now.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Ghost_Aspergers on September 02, 2008, 10:41:08 am
Holy shit. I always thought it was some cliche to hear that particular voice.... but it turns out he did 5000? He may very well have done them all... and now...

...

Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: bonermobile on September 02, 2008, 10:43:22 am
i had no idea who this guy was so i popped his name into youtube and instantly recognized it, his voice was so awesome :(

rip awesome voice guy
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Shadow Kirby on September 02, 2008, 11:01:18 am
Coming to a cemetary near you, Don Lafontaine.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Kitsune Inferno on September 02, 2008, 11:14:48 am
No!!! Why does everyone I love die!? :(
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Liman on September 02, 2008, 11:42:16 am
Quote from: KBJGXLM on September 02, 2008, 10:41:08 am
$50 says Pablo Francisco will be trying to cash in on this.

Well... they might as well use him now that Don is gone.  :tsk:
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Barack Obama on September 02, 2008, 02:40:02 pm
oh well
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Strangeluv on September 02, 2008, 02:54:23 pm
He died from pneumothorax...

There's another celebrity here with pneumothorax... A.. Atari...
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: General Robert E. Lee on September 02, 2008, 04:20:41 pm
In a world without Don LaFontaine, a man cries in the darkness...
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Bizzle on September 02, 2008, 04:24:03 pm
Quote from: Man-O-War on September 02, 2008, 04:20:41 pm
In a world without Don LaFontaine, a man cries in the darkness...
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: pburn on September 02, 2008, 09:09:20 pm
HOW THE FUCK DID HE DIE HE  WHAT THE FUCK

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Bill Murray on September 02, 2008, 09:18:59 pm
You can only judge how respected a person is when they die by how many capital letters Psyburn uses in his posts.

RIP Don LaFontaine.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Strangeluv on September 02, 2008, 09:20:29 pm
Oh no you didn't get his autograph
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Rayne on September 02, 2008, 11:20:50 pm
Wow, this really does honestly suck. Man, movie trailers just aren't going to be the same anymore...

Seriously, the man had a great voice. I feel kinda bad that I never knew his name until now.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: TFT on September 02, 2008, 11:27:20 pm
That's a shame, dude. I saw him in a few interviews and he seemed like a really humble guy. Just a regular joe or whatever. Rest in Peace buddy. I'll miss hearing his voice on 99% of everything.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Saleop on September 03, 2008, 12:50:18 am
Man it's so weird that we are NEVER going to hear his voice in a trailer again. It's seriously the end of an era.

unless they get a copycat like pablo francisco, but even his imitation isn't 100% accurate
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: PTizzle on September 03, 2008, 12:11:34 pm


Good interview!

This is really bad though, movie trailers just won't be the same.
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Bondo on September 11, 2008, 07:26:33 am
That youtube video actually made me feel all emotional.  No tears though.  Men don't cry, they grunt and look steely.

Goodbye Don, you'll be missed.

Edit:
Quote
Men don't cry, they grunt and look steely.
Says the guy who's group is "Flower Boys."
Aw who am I kidding, I blubbered like a baby.  That guy can never be replaced!
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: jpolito830 on September 12, 2008, 01:38:36 pm
Im sure there are a few people who sound like him....but its not the same.  His Geico commercial was hilarious!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJMGS7l0wT8
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Standard Toaster on September 12, 2008, 06:09:57 pm

how did i just hear about this? RIP :[
Title: The voice is dead. RIP Don LaFontaine. (1940 - 2008)
Post by: Matt Hakor on September 16, 2008, 05:44:44 am
This sucks. That man had the most amazing voice talent ever.