Sad news from the entertainment world, Don "Thunder Throat" Lafontaine, passed away on the 1st of Sept. He was 68 years old. Mr. Lafontaine was a voiceover artist and was known as The Voice of the movie trailers.
You've heard him say this before, hundreds of times "In a world..."
He was the ubiquitous narrator of the two minute trailer with a voice so grovely, so baritone that you'd swear he lived on a diet of 14 year old single malt and Cuban cigars. His work was instantly recognizable and if he was pitching a horror flick, he'd lower his narrative an extra octave, just to get you in the mood...the man could give you goose bumps and fear dark theaters in one swift stroke.
He's been in the business so long, I can remember him from my childhood, when I first got into movies. Once upon a time, it was possible to sit in the theater and sneak into the other rooms for a FREE second or third show (common practice at the Fairview Cinema, for those who remember). Back then, anything fancied your senses. You were at the Movies, by God and therefore believed everything you saw and heard, as you "suffered" from suspension of disbelief. As soon as the lights went out, the screen came alive and you heard HIM, the guy-with-the-voice-from-the-movies!
I'm writing this entry tonight because his passing knocked over the nostalgia bottle and reminded me of days gone when I would still be mesmerized and excited with the movies...something that hasn't happen in a long time. He was a legend in his field and played a part in the Moving Pictures' History and Lore.
I humbly submit to AMPAS that they honour his work with a posthumous Oscar for Best Voiceover Artist.
Don Lafontaine, 1940-2008.
Requiescat in Pace.
You've heard him say this before, hundreds of times "In a world..."
He was the ubiquitous narrator of the two minute trailer with a voice so grovely, so baritone that you'd swear he lived on a diet of 14 year old single malt and Cuban cigars. His work was instantly recognizable and if he was pitching a horror flick, he'd lower his narrative an extra octave, just to get you in the mood...the man could give you goose bumps and fear dark theaters in one swift stroke.
He's been in the business so long, I can remember him from my childhood, when I first got into movies. Once upon a time, it was possible to sit in the theater and sneak into the other rooms for a FREE second or third show (common practice at the Fairview Cinema, for those who remember). Back then, anything fancied your senses. You were at the Movies, by God and therefore believed everything you saw and heard, as you "suffered" from suspension of disbelief. As soon as the lights went out, the screen came alive and you heard HIM, the guy-with-the-voice-from-the-movies!
I'm writing this entry tonight because his passing knocked over the nostalgia bottle and reminded me of days gone when I would still be mesmerized and excited with the movies...something that hasn't happen in a long time. He was a legend in his field and played a part in the Moving Pictures' History and Lore.
I humbly submit to AMPAS that they honour his work with a posthumous Oscar for Best Voiceover Artist.
Don Lafontaine, 1940-2008.
Requiescat in Pace.
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