Some Famous Announcers Of The Past Decades In Film & Television

By Barbara Weinstein


Being well-known as one of the famous announcers is easier than being a star known for your face because the paparazzi doesn't follow you everywhere you go. It's still a good job, though, and can be quite lucrative. With a clear and strong voice, an ability to read material without slipping up, good diction and enunciation, a person can have a good living doing voice work.

Some of the most long lived careers in public announcing have been for those working in television. Game show announcers and late night TV show announcers are probably the ones most commonly remembered. Most people remember Johnny Carson from his decades of late night TV and there, at his side on most every show, was the famous Ed McMahon. For 30 years McMahon was at Carson's side and will ever be remembered for his announcement at the beginning of each show, "Here's Johnny!"

McMahon always had lots of work and could be seen all over TV throughout his long career. He did numerous TV commercials including being the spokesperson for Budweiser for years. He hosted several television shows, the Macy's Parade and gave away money for the American Family Publishers to their sweepstakes winners.

Other well recognized personalities who started as announcers were Gene Rayburn and Hugh Downs. Downs went on to have a very good career in game shows and later as a news anchor on 20/20. Alan Kalter, announcer for Dave Letterman has a unique and recognizable voice as does Don Pardo, who has been announcing for Saturday Night Live for quite a long time.

The one man best known for his booming voice on so many movie trailers was Don LaFontaine, also known as 'Thunder Throat'. After more than five thousand voice overs for movie previews he was the unqualified king of the movie trailer. He also did thousands and thousands of television commercials during his long tenure as an announcer.

Famous announcers are few and far between but, for those who have found this career it's a great job. It pays well, has reasonable working hours and isn't too difficult. Plus, those who start out as announcers often graduate to even bigger and better things.




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