History Creator / DonLaFontaine

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you undoubtedly know the voice]]. '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) almost singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers, with his distinctive voice and style of delivery replacing the text transitions of the 80's. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation, or an AffectionateParody of the guy. Though best known for "InAWorld", Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it.

His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'', and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. He was fond of parodying himself: he read out the {{memetic|Mutation}} "Safety Not Guaranteed" ad on Website/{YTMND}}, and his final TV appearance was a cameo on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' lampshading the ObligatoryJoke.

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you undoubtedly know the voice]]. '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) almost singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers, with his distinctive voice and style of delivery replacing the text transitions of the 80's. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation, or an AffectionateParody of the guy. Though best known for "InAWorld", Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'', and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''.

-->-- '''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice]]. '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld", Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'', and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''.

He got his start because he had a job writing the copy for movie trailers, and one day the voice actor man who was supposed to do the trailer did not show up, so [=LaFontaine=] was asked if he would do it. Thus, a legend was born.

-->--'''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice]]. '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld", Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''.

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld", Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''.

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''.

-->--'''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' ([[TearJerker his final role]])

-->--'''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' ([[TearJerker His final role]])

InAWorld... where action movie trailers are made... one ordinary man, under extraordinary circumstances... will discover the [[LargeHamAnnouncer hidden power of his own voice]]... and change the world.

->''"InAWorld... There, I said it. Happy?"''

In a world without The Man, The Myth, The Legend -- Don [=LaFontaine=] -- society must find a way... to survive.

He got his start because he had a job writing the copy for movie trailers, and one day the voice actor man who was supposed to do the trailer did not show up, so Lafontaine was asked if he would do it. Thus, a legend was born.

RIP Don [=LaFontaine=].

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''WesternAnimation/{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] '''Donald Leroy [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually singlehandedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

->''"InAWorld... [[AdamWesting There, I said it. Happy]]?"''

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] '''Don [=LaFontaine=]''' (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually single-handedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

->''"InAWorld"... [[AdamWesting There, I said it. Happy]]?"''
->--'''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' ([[TearJerker His final role]])

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] Don [=LaFontaine=] (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually single-handedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. He noted that a major advantage was that his voice existed on a pretty unique timbre, meaning a quiet conversational tone could be easily heard despite any noise in the trailer behind it. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

->--'''Don [=LaFontaine=]''', on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' (one of his final roles)

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] Don [=LaFontaine=] (August 26, 1940 -- September 1, 2008) virtually single-handedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

Even if you don't recognize the name, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg you know the voice.]] Don [=LaFontaine=] virtually single-handedly created the modern era of movie trailers with his distinctive voice and style of delivery. Don was respected throughout the industry for both his talent and personality and you would be hard pressed to find anyone imitating his distinctive delivery as anything but a respectful imitation or an AffectionateParody. Though best known for "InAWorld," Don's voice was reportedly heard in hundreds of thousands of TV spots and more than 5,000 times in movies and movie trailers in just about every genre imaginable. His favourite movie trailer was for ''Film/TheElephantMan'' which he not only voiced but also wrote. He did OpeningNarration for ''{{Fillmore}}'', ''Series/{{JAG}}'' and ''Series/TeamKnightRider'', and also starred AsHimself in the sketch ''Film/FiveMenAndALimo''. It is a testament to his legacy that even after [=LaFontaine=]'s death, trailers are now mostly voiced by the [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute very similar-sounding]] Miguel Ferrer. Nobody wants to see a movie unless a man with a gravelly voice tells them to.

RIP Don [=LaFontaine=] (1940-2008).

->''"Trailers, commercials and school chicken reports will sound a lot emptier from now on without The Don. The largest hole his absence leaves, however, was summed up by a random Website/YouTube commentor: 'Now how will we know what kind of world we live in??'"''
->--PlatypusComix's memorial to him