What is the connection between the movie “announcer guy” Don LaFontaine and Disney’s Phineas and Ferb?
1940 – Don LaFontaine, the Voice of Over 5,000 Movies
You may not recognize Don LaFontaine’s face, but depending on old you are, you’ve probably heard his voice. Many times. Born on this day in 1940, LaFontaine made a name for himself recording narration for movie trailers, TV commercials and even trailers for video games. He was best known for repeating the following phrase in a deep, dramatic voice: “In a world…”
Known by some as “Thunder Throat” or “The Voice of God”, LaFontaine made such an impact in the day, many commercials continue with similar-sounding advertising. The funny thing is that he never intended on doing voice work.
Don was a recording engineer and in 1962, he created some radio commercials for the Stanley Kubrick movie, Dr. Strangelove. He got along well with the film’s producer, Floyd Peter and the two went into business together. Legend has it that while working on a promo for the movie Gunfighters of Casa Grande, he had to fill in for one of the actor’s voices who wasn’t available to record. It was good enough for MGM who bought the spots, and he became a voiceover artist.
In 2006, LaFontaine did a Geico commercial where he was introduced as “that announcer guy from the movies”. His last voiceover job for a movie was for the documentary, Call + Response. But here’s a better story – his last voiceover work for TV was for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb cartoon series where his last line was, “In a world…There, I said it. Happy?”
Sadly, Don passed away on September 1, 2008, at the age of 68.
OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY:
1973: Belly Dancing
The University of Texas at Arlington becomes the first accredited school to offer belly dancing.
1907: Escapist
In San Francisco Bay, California, Harry Houdini escapes from his chain underwater in just 57 seconds.
2023: Big Gator
An 800-pound, 14-foot-long alligator is captured in Sunflower River in Mississippi. (The average weight is 350-500 pounds.)
Movies Released
- 1994: Natural Born Killers
- 2005: The Brothers Grimm
- 2011: Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
- 2011: Our Idiot Brother
- 2015: No Escape
- 2020: The New Mutants
- 2022: Samaritan
- 2022: The Invitation
TV Series Debuts
- 1975: Beacon Hill (CBS)
- 1993: Angel Falls (CBS)
- 1994: M.A.N.T.I.S. (FOX)
- 1996: 7th Heaven (The CW)
- 1997: Head Over Heels (UPN)
- 1997: Hitz (UPN)
- 2003: Playmakers (ESPN)
- 2007: As the Bell Rings (Disney)
- 2009: Crash Course (ABC)
- 2013: Teen Mom 3 (MTV)
- 2013: Xiaolin Chronicles (Disney XD)
- 2015: The Carmichael Show (NBC)
- 2018: America to Me (STARZ)
- 2019: Pup Academy (Disney)
BILLBOARD HOT 100 #1 SONGS
2023: “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims
#1 position for 1 week.
Famous Birthdays
- 1940: Don LaFontaine (voice actor)
- 1980: Macaulay Culkin (actor)
- 1980: Chris Pine (actor)
- 1982: John Mulaney (comedian)
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