Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) at 95
#1
Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) at 95
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Wingreen provided the voice of Fett in the original version of The Empire Strikes Back, while Jeremy Bulloch was the on-screen actor underneath all that armor. The character only had four lines in Empire, and just a yell in Return of the Jedi. George Lucas had Wingreen's voice redubbed by Temuera Morrison (the on-screen actor who portrayed Jango Fett, Boba's father in Attack of the Clones) for continuity purposes for Empire's 2004 DVD release.
He had quite a career as an on-screen actor. Links to two articles about Wingreen below. Hard to believe that Harry the bartender (1976-83) in All in the Family/Archie Bunker's Place had such a menacing voice. Especially when you see that goofy look on his face.
Notable quote from Wingreen in the Chicago tribune article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/ar...t-95.html?_r=0
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...07-column.html
Wingreen provided the voice of Fett in the original version of The Empire Strikes Back, while Jeremy Bulloch was the on-screen actor underneath all that armor. The character only had four lines in Empire, and just a yell in Return of the Jedi. George Lucas had Wingreen's voice redubbed by Temuera Morrison (the on-screen actor who portrayed Jango Fett, Boba's father in Attack of the Clones) for continuity purposes for Empire's 2004 DVD release.
He had quite a career as an on-screen actor. Links to two articles about Wingreen below. Hard to believe that Harry the bartender (1976-83) in All in the Family/Archie Bunker's Place had such a menacing voice. Especially when you see that goofy look on his face.
Notable quote from Wingreen in the Chicago tribune article:
I have a little helmet that my son and daughter-in-law bought me on eBay and gave me as a birthday present, where if you press a little button my voice says, 'Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold.' That's my voice, and I don't get a single penny for that. So I have no love for George Lucas."
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/ar...t-95.html?_r=0
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...07-column.html
Last edited by digidoh; 01-07-16 at 09:50 AM.
#3
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
George Lucas had Wingreen's voice redubbed by Temuera Morrison (the on-screen actor who portrayed Jango Fett, Boba's father in Attack of the Clones) for continuity purposes for Empire's 2004 DVD release.
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
He was a clone so it wasn't just his father.
But other than that...fuck Lucas re-dubbing the guys work.
But other than that...fuck Lucas re-dubbing the guys work.
#5
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I didn't know it, either, 'til today. Here's a link to sound clips of all four of the lines by Wingreen and one redone by Morrison.
http://www.bobafettfanclub.com/multimedia/audio/
Edit: In case it makes any difference, Boba Fett first appeared as an animated character in the otherwise live-action Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978, where he was voiced by Don Francks, who also voiced Fett in an episode of the animated series Star Wars: Droids.
http://www.bobafettfanclub.com/multimedia/audio/
Edit: In case it makes any difference, Boba Fett first appeared as an animated character in the otherwise live-action Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978, where he was voiced by Don Francks, who also voiced Fett in an episode of the animated series Star Wars: Droids.
Last edited by digidoh; 01-07-16 at 04:03 PM. Reason: Added animated appearance
#6
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I knew about the redubbing but I had thought it was Jeremy Bulloch that provided Boba Fett's voice.
Wingreen's voice was quiet but brooding and fit the character fine.
Wingreen's voice was quiet but brooding and fit the character fine.
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
The most alarmin thing here is not that Lucas changed the voice, but that so many of you didn't know!
#8
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
In fact, it's quantifiably-false. Modified Star Wars has always done extremely well on home video. They've never had any trouble selling the modified versions.
#10
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
But you're talking about the masses. How many of them would notice 4 dubbed lines of dialog?
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
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Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I think most people watching the last two revisions (DVD and Blu/digital) either know about the change or realize they didn't hire a 19-year-old Temeura Morrison to dub the lines in 1980 in anticipation of him portraying Jango Fett 22 years later.
Now I don't think people who have watched the movies over the years are going to overlook the fact that a major character is suddenly speaking with a Kiwi accent.
So to bring this whole thing full-circle I agree with Timber, he makes a great point: the people who are unaware of the re-dubbing clearly aren't aware that the dubbing was re-done. I think we can all agree that that says a lot about Jason Wingreen's legacy as an entertainer.
Now I don't think people who have watched the movies over the years are going to overlook the fact that a major character is suddenly speaking with a Kiwi accent.
So to bring this whole thing full-circle I agree with Timber, he makes a great point: the people who are unaware of the re-dubbing clearly aren't aware that the dubbing was re-done. I think we can all agree that that says a lot about Jason Wingreen's legacy as an entertainer.
#14
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
For "most," I'd say "many" with the modifier "long-standing fans". Normal people neither know, nor care - or would never considee the possibility of retroactive edits! It's the fans and the website-readers who do/might know about SOME changes, but aside from the famous (Han/Greedo) and infamous/visually obvious (Hayden not Sebastian), few are that widely known. However obvious they seem to multi-watching fans.
#15
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
It's a little sad that he seems most famous for four lines that have been mostly erased from commercially available copies of the film.
#16
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I'd agree that Boba Fett's popularity doesn't really reflect his overall importance, and I wouldn't expect casual fans to notice the voice change, but I think calling him very minor character is a bit disingenuous. He plays a fairly significant supporting role in Empire, no matter how many lines he has. He even gets his own music cue, which not even Lando can say.
#17
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
Side note : Wouldn't Han Solo be just as good to Boba Fett if he were frozen in carbonite and dead? I mean if he's just going to be a living room decoration in Jabba's palace, does it really matter if he's alive or not under the surface?
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I had no idea he was also from All in the Family/Archie Bunker's Place. Enjoyed both of those shows and know him better from them. RIP.
#19
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
I just assumed that the bounty that Jabba put on his head stated that he needed to be brought in alive. The fact that Jabba decided to use him as wall art when he was delivered frozen is beside the point.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Belated Obit: Jason Wingreen, original voice of Boba Fett has died (12/25/2015) a
Never thought about him not having any lines in ROTJ... just furthers how underused the character was. And it really is a shame his lines were replaced...