It’s been one year since Don LaFontaine’s death.  Although it sounds odd, I remember where I was when I heard the news. I sat on a friend’s couch with my laptop watching YouTube clips of the man himself, completely unaware of his death.  I found my way to his Wikipedia page which stated August 26, 1940 – September 1, 2008. I was chilled. Not only by the sheer irony, but because a man whom I had come to admire as an artist would no longer be gracing the entertainment world with his talent.

So what did Don LaFontaine do?

In 1969, he filled in for an absent voice actor and started on his way to success.  Since that time, Don morphed into the rich, throaty voice of cinema.  It’s hard seeing a movie trailer made in the last 30 years without Don starting it off with “In a world…” or “One man…” With a in house recording studio in his Hollywood home, the man was unstoppable.  Flixster.com says:

Aside from his continuing work in the trailer industry, he has also been the voice of NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and UPN, in addition to TNT, TBS and the Cartoon Network. By conservative estimates, he has voiced hundreds of thousands of television and radio spots, including commercials for Chevrolet, Pontiac, Ford, Budweiser, McDonalds, Coke, and many other corporate sponsors. 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.

In the world of entertainment it’s unheard of that one person can monopolize such an important aspect of media.  No man was as popular in his own field than Don.  That is the reason I find his life and career so fascinating.  Don Lafontaine was a pro in every sense of the word.  He was excellent.  Don’s status and legacy is  something for all artists to not only aim for, but also to admire.

“…Remember, practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”

-Don LaFontaine (1940-2008)