DVD Talk Forum - RIP Don LaFontaine, 68

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RIP Don LaFontaine, 68

http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/64990/index.html

Quote:

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.

"In a world..."

:rip:

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.

NO!

DAMN!

:(

You are missed. Big time.

--THX

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.

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.

rip don. what a great voice.

Denny's must have called.

RIP. Don.
You will be missed.

May you continue describing the exploits of a rogue, robot cop in the beyond, Don.

Too soon and too young.

Thanks Don, for a great unsung body of work.

Rest In Peace.

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.

He will be missed.

:rip:

RIP Voice Over God :up:

Oh no!! :doh:
R.I.P. :(

RIP, you were enjoyed. Thanks.

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.

Was he the guy on the geico commercial?

Quote:

Originally Posted by movieguru (Post 8911039)

Was he the guy on the geico commercial?

yes.

Thanks for the clip, project86. Like many others, I pretended to be Don (or at least his voice) many times.

RIP. The Voice of God is gone.

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.