Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Movie Talk
Reload this Page >

RIP Don LaFontaine, 68

Movie Talk A Discussion area for everything movie related including films In The Theaters

RIP Don LaFontaine, 68

Old 09-01-08, 10:17 PM
  #1  
DVD Talk Legend
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MA
Posts: 17,000
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
RIP Don LaFontaine, 68

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/64990/index.html
Voiceover Master Don LaFontaine has died. He was 68.

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.
RIP Don. Trailers won't be the same without you.
Old 09-01-08, 10:20 PM
  #2  
DVD Talk Legend
 
JumpCutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: south of heaven
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
"In a world..."





Old 09-01-08, 10:22 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
JTH182's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 5,779
Received 113 Likes on 75 Posts
In a world without Don LaFontaine, movie trailers just won't be the same

Hollywood lost one of it's biggest unseen and "unknown" stars.
Old 09-01-08, 10:33 PM
  #4  
Moderator
 
Geofferson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: The Village Green
Posts: 39,752
Received 90 Likes on 76 Posts
rip
Old 09-01-08, 10:39 PM
  #5  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NO!

DAMN!



You are missed. Big time.

--THX
Old 09-01-08, 10:40 PM
  #6  
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow. I'm shocked. I remember just a few months ago my friend and I were talking about what would happen to the voiceover industry if Don died. I can't believe the most recognizable voice in the world is no more.
Old 09-01-08, 10:43 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Guntersville, AL
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For those not familiar:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7QPMvj_xejg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7QPMvj_xejg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

RIP man.
Old 09-01-08, 11:00 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 9,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
rip
Old 09-01-08, 11:17 PM
  #9  
Member
 
Brack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: near Cincinnati
Posts: 10,007
Received 61 Likes on 39 Posts
rip don. what a great voice.
Old 09-01-08, 11:35 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Denny's must have called.

RIP. Don.
You will be missed.
Old 09-01-08, 11:58 PM
  #11  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
filmerp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Playa del Rey, CA
Posts: 2,987
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
May you continue describing the exploits of a rogue, robot cop in the beyond, Don.
Old 09-02-08, 12:19 AM
  #12  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
mike45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Earth
Posts: 2,314
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Too soon and too young.

Thanks Don, for a great unsung body of work.

Rest In Peace.
Old 09-02-08, 01:40 AM
  #13  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Texas
Posts: 7,763
Received 10 Likes on 3 Posts
Old 09-02-08, 02:41 AM
  #14  
DVD Talk Legend
 
The Infidel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: the kingdom of the evil Voratians, ruled by the wicked Ak-Oga
Posts: 11,593
Received 80 Likes on 46 Posts
IMO, Don was as much a legend of film as any actor out there, past and present. Those are gonna be some pretty big shoes to fill.
Old 09-02-08, 02:58 AM
  #15  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
UAIOE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LV-426
Posts: 6,598
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
He will be missed.

Old 09-02-08, 04:12 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Giantrobo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,126
Received 1,748 Likes on 1,093 Posts
RIP Voice Over God
Old 09-02-08, 06:54 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Eerie, Pa.
Posts: 298
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh no!!
R.I.P.
Old 09-02-08, 07:50 AM
  #18  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Relocated to Bot-Hell
Posts: 11,819
Received 239 Likes on 175 Posts
RIP, you were enjoyed. Thanks.
Old 09-02-08, 08:41 AM
  #19  
DVD Talk Legend
 
B5Erik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Southern California
Posts: 13,537
Received 457 Likes on 335 Posts
Well, that just sucks.

He definitely had a legendary voice that any serious movie fan knew. Trailers really won't be the same without him.
Old 09-02-08, 09:23 AM
  #20  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,571
Received 270 Likes on 206 Posts
Was he the guy on the geico commercial?
Old 09-02-08, 09:33 AM
  #21  
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Giantrobo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Gateway Cities/Harbor Region
Posts: 63,126
Received 1,748 Likes on 1,093 Posts
Originally Posted by movieguru
Was he the guy on the geico commercial?
yes.
Old 09-02-08, 09:37 AM
  #22  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Cardsfan111's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 18,479
Likes: 0
Received 366 Likes on 231 Posts
Thanks for the clip, project86. Like many others, I pretended to be Don (or at least his voice) many times.
Old 09-02-08, 09:37 AM
  #23  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
tommyp007's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kingsport, TN
Posts: 6,413
Received 120 Likes on 80 Posts
RIP. The Voice of God is gone.
Old 09-02-08, 10:18 AM
  #24  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SnogBox
Posts: 8,462
Received 128 Likes on 94 Posts


http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/2663...edian/trailers
Old 09-02-08, 10:22 AM
  #25  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
clckworang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: The toe nail of Texas
Posts: 9,547
Received 750 Likes on 488 Posts
It will be weird when a new trailer voiceover king emerges. LaFontaine is really a cool story. I mean the guy might have been the most famous person around. Everyone has heard him, knows much of his work. As was said, many have even imitated him. And yet, it wasn't until he made some appearances in commercials that anyone would have even recognized him.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.