Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 6:28 am
WAY too young for him to go. Movie trailers and GEICO spots will never be the same.
http://www.etonline.com/news/2008/09/64990/index.html
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 7:04 am
What a shocker!! He certainly set the standard and brought our industry into the limelight in many ways.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 10:41 am
The voice didn't immediately come to me so I Googled and found the following Geico spot in which he appears on-camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJMGS7l0wT8
I just sent an email to NorthWest Cable News suggesting they post online an interview with LaFontaine they ran a few months ago in their Evening Magazine program. We'll see if they respond. http://www.nwcn.com/video/
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 2:05 pm
Bummer...
So, who is the heir apparent? Is there one guy that will pick up the bulk of Don's workload?
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 3:04 pm
I am thinking it will be the guy that voices the "Afflac" duck.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 4:24 pm
>>I am thinking it will be the guy that voices the "Afflac" duck.<<
Surely you jest. The voice of the duck is Gilbert Gottfried.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 4:31 pm
Gilbert is a voice-over artist. He's with the William-Morris Agency, I believe.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 4:40 pm
Here's more on Don LaFontaine from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_LaFontaine
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 5:38 pm
I wish that the heir to Don's legacy could be Phil Hendrie! 
Just imagine "Bud Dickman" or Hendrie's other character voices doing promotional spots and movie trailers.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 5:43 pm
Could there be a greater job in broadcasting/entertainment than being a handsomely-paid voiceover talent? Don LaFontaine had the ultimate dream job.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 5:50 pm
Comedian Pablo Francisco does a very good Don LaFontaine impression. And is pretty funny too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJGkKdqPx_c
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 5:55 pm
"Surely you jest. The voice of the duck is Gilbert Gottfried."
Hey, don't call me Surely!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 8:35 pm
Gilbert Gottfried......Gods I hope Gottfried doesn't take over for Lafontaine. But then again, Gottfried definately has a face for voice-over work.... ;o)
(Someone told me that's his real voice, too......)
Personally I hope Hal Douglas (whose voice is sometimes confused for Lafontaine's, despite the fact they really don't sound too much alike) ends up taking over. Whomever does end up with the job, they will have some HUGE boots to fill.
RIP Don Lafontaine, the movie trailers won't sound the same any more.........
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 10:21 pm
Here are a couple of nice bits
Famous voices, NBC
Five Guys in a Limo- hilarious
Hal Douglas' classic parody
Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 1:37 am
I watched America's Most Wanted, he did the show intro's and John Walsh mentioned he died.
Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 5:03 pm
Does anyone know what his final movie trailer gig was? I don't.
Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 7:58 pm
" In a world without Don LaFontaine"...
Monday, September 08, 2008 - 12:06 am
How clever would it have been for him to record his own reading at his own funeral to be played at a later date?
Monday, September 08, 2008 - 3:24 pm
There is an old radio joke about a famous voice-over announcer who died suddenly. One of his competitors asked "What did he have?" Another competitor said, "Oh, United Airlines, Coke, General Motors, NBC, Sony.....".
