Sad news today as it has been confirmed that the legendary voice-artist, Hal Douglas, has died, following complications of pancreatic cancer, according to The New York Times.
The 89 year old was regarded as one of the most famous voice over artists in history, his words filling movie trailers with that baritone and earthly vent. Most known for his iconic opening line 'In a world', 'In a land' and every variation in between, Hal was the man for the job pretty much most of the time, as he possessed marvelous flexibility in his tone allowing him to narrate trailers such as Forrest Gump, Philadelphia to comedies such as Meet The Parents and Coneheads.
Douglas speaking to the New York Times back in 2009 commented on his prolific career:
"You sit down in the theatre and sometimes in three out of four trailers I'd be on them."
He worked right up to about 2 years ago and was held up as an all time great in the film community long before his passing. Marice Tobias, one of the business' most well known voice coaches and consultants said of Mr. Douglas' reputation:
“When you go past superstar status, you reach icon status in this business, where people know you by one name only,
“That was Hal.”
A fitting tribute to the man, who's voice we all knew and loved so well. In one of the few on screen appearances he took on, a trailer for the documentary by Jerry Seinfeld, The Comedian, Hal is seen taking the royal piss out of himself and his style in what is a very funny piece, and important today as it will put a face to the iconic voice.
A short documentary about Hal directed by Casimir Nozkowski and titled 'A Great Voice', gives another nice insight into the character of the man with the golden tone.
Via: The New York Times
