Don LaFontaine Dies At 68

Entertainment Tonight Online ^ | 01 Sept. 2008 | Staff Reporter

[txradioguy]

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.

[txradioguy]

RIP sir. You are the hero of many of us in the business.

[ClearCase_guy]

In a world where a search function is inoperable the passing of a significant man will be noted. Over. And over. And over.

Again

[smith288]

“In a world where we live without men who open movie trailors with ‘In a world’ “...

Don will be missed.

[txradioguy]

I did a search for exactly what the title says.

Thanks anyway.

[RDTF]

Isn’t that what Bernie Mac had?

[Bender2]

By the sound of your voice, I have to ask... did you ever work at KAND in Corsicana?

[txradioguy]

No I thin Mac had some kind of infection as a result of pneumonia.

This was the result of a collapsed lung.

[txradioguy]

LOL! No I did all of my work farther west in the Midland/Odessa area.

[papasmurf]

I met him several times when I attended Don Martin School of Communications and Broadcast. He was a gem of a man and will be missed.

In particular, I remember an instance where he and Gary Owens, who was also a guest instructor, did an impromptu “skit” for us which had all of us in stitches and awe.

Prayers up!

[papasmurf]

Ever do anything for Pams?

[txradioguy]

One of my soldiers took leave and went out and spent a week with him last summer.

Don was kind enough to V/O the intro to our Regimental Video the last two years.

IN addition to his long career in Hollywood...he was a member of The United States Army Band (Pershing’s Own) as one of their sound engineers in the 50’s.

[txradioguy]

Nope.

[Natchez Hawk]

Corsicana? That’s where my grandparents lived.

RIP Don.

[papasmurf]

Staunch Democrat, very liberal, btw.

[txradioguy]

And yet he’s someone who’s success I’d love to some day emulate.

[vetvetdoug]

XERF and KDLK...Paul Kalinger was the consummate radio voice in the area. Don was really good. RIP Don....

[Dick Vomer]

I never knew who he was till the GEICO commercial and almost died laughing. He had a unique voice and was obviously a professional, but I think I like the fact that he could poke fun at himself.

I'm sure there's a kid out there whose voice just changed that may have a future in the voiceover business.

[papasmurf]

And I hope you do. Just not his politics. Please notice I said good things about him.

[txradioguy]

Yes sir you certainly did.

I’ll be in the ground before MY politics ever become Liberal. ;)

[fieldmarshaldj]

Did what he did best. RIP.