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Don LaFontaine Passes at 68

V

VODood

A partial blurb from Allaccess.com

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, report ETONLINE. 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.
 
I got an e-mail from a friend in LA last night. This really saddened me...and it caused me to sit much of all night to ponder my own mortality and the seemingly meaningless road we are on. How cruel this life can be when not hours after someone has passed there are e-mails and phone calls with nasty comments about how so many other VO guys will be hovering around to "take the spoils" of a truely original voiceover artist.

There was a reason Don was able to get the amount of work he did. He was a professional, and his talent was sought after because of the quality and effectiveness of his product. He had a family, and a life outside of movie trailers. Now the industry will seek out a new and original "sound" to sell thier products. No use in trying to do a "knock off" Don LaFontaine. The real deal is no longer available, and anything else is simply a cheap imitation.

I went right out today and got a life insurance policy that would cover my family in case anything like this should happen to me...and while I am no where near the status or calibre of Mr. LaFontaine I can still strive to be respected, and admired in the same manner...to that end I will continue to aim my efforts.

My thoughts are with the family, friends, and associates of Don LaFontaine who will miss him for far more than his talent.

Life is fleeting, and there are no promises..live with joy, and be happy.
 
You're pretty damn good in your own right, JL. You're right though, Don LaFontaine was The Dude... an original... anyone attempting to re-create his act will only be perceived as a knock-off.

"In a world of voice actors, only one man is Don LaFontaine."

Word is Don sent out an email only last week explaining the seriousness of his condition. He expected to improve. Guess they needed a voice over guy for that megawatter in sky. Ernie Anderson and Thurl Ravenscroft must've needed some help... political season up there.

The best gift any one of us can give our families, besides a healthy insurance policy, is to live a life of moderation. Easier said than done, especially for radio and media types often given to excess. Marlboro's and Jack might help thicken the voice when we're 23, but they reap devastating dividends redeemed when we're 53.

On the other hand, I've never cultivated a liking for carrot juice.
 
Jeff,

You have a pretty good nitch carved out and I swear I am not kissing butt lol, you have really added to my station and I want to do more with you soon.

As for Don

So often when someone dies, and only then do people talk about how great they were, as a person and talent. I think we can all say this guy has always been respected. He will be missed, I have been sad all day after hearing about it.

Don and me have been in contact a few times over the last few years. He was a class act, even though I did not know him and I am nobody, he took the time to listen to my demo and sent this to me and I will always cherish his words and kindness. If you love/like/respect somebody, let them know while you can.

From: [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thu 5/25/2006 2:35 PM



Jim -

Great fun! Also well-produced. I think you're on to something, here.

I may have to have you killed.

Seriously - I think it's terrific. Any gripes I might have with yur reads will be corrected by more mic time in the character. Just wait'll you hear what you sound like after you've really absorbed this guy!

Really, really nice work! Keep it up.

Respectfully -

Don't know if this gives me a license to use the old dramatic/growl thing, but really there is no replacing this guy and I for one could not, there has been people that have tried for years. I actually just stumbled upon that sound when I was younger and trying to do Barry White, but instead sounded more like "the Movie Guy" according to a co-worker. So I started doing trailer spoofs and over the years have landed a few gigs.

R.I.P. Don
 
I was on Don's email blast and actually exchanged some emails with him. Always nice and eager to help a "young un" like me out, whether it be questions about technique, mics, etc he was always gracious. In one email he told me he used the Manley Reference at home. And that the U87 "was the standard at studios but now the 416 has taken over".

I asked about his home studio and he admitted to not knowing much about it as it was built by a FOX Network engineer (as was Joe Cip's home studio).

If I'm correct I believe one of his first VO gigs was for one of Clint Eastwood's spaghetti westerns. I want to say "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"...but not really sure.

Per an interview I saw long ago he said he wrote trailers early in his career...and "invented" the phrase..."in a world..". He was also an editor at the time before being thrust into doing VO when his boss got sick and couldn't do any VO work for weeks. Don stepped up and just did it not knowing he would create an industry.

"In a world...."


Long live the King!
http://www.donlafontaine.com/DLF2007/index.html


As for soundalikes... IMO comedian Pablo Francisco is probably the closest... and he's just kidding around.

In fact he, Don and Frank Caliendo did a trailer bit together last year on Frank's tv show on TBS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlqbcJZd38

Pablo by himself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2uLkcTKms&feature=related



And for those wanting to do trailers... arguably Jason Marks is THE agency. These days I think Howard Parker does more trailers than anyone
http://www.jmtalent.com/
 
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