Hal Douglas, a legendary voiceover artist, has died at the age of 89. You may not know his name, but you’ve certainly heard his voice. For over 60 years Hal Douglas worked as a voiceover artist and became one of the three iconic voices for film trailers along with the late Don LaFontaine and Don Morrow. Douglas died on Tuesday from complications due to pancreatic cancer his daughter announced yesterday. Douglas has often been credited with coining the phrase ‘In A World…’ although many others claim LaFontaine was the man behind the term. No matter who coined it though, both these legends could deliver it unlike any other, which was proved in Lake Bell’s fantastic 2013 comedy IN A WORLD… which followed a group of voiceover artists trying to bring the phrase back.
Douglas’ voice is ingrained in my, and probably millions of others’ memory, with unavoidable work in trailers such as CON AIR, PHILADELPHIA, and LETHAL WEAPON. Best of all though was the trailer for Jerry Seinfeld’s documentary COMEDIAN, which saw Hal Douglas trying his best to deliver a trailer.
Trailers today do not tend to utilise voiceovers as much, perhaps because the likes of Douglas and LaFontaine became so iconic it almost became a parody, but for generations of movie goers, their voices were part of the experience. R.I.P. Hal Douglas 1924-2014.
Source: NY Times
