# Actors/performers with distinctive voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2021, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606 "2021-02-10T12:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/41 "2021-02-10T22:07:58Z")
[Shohreh Aghdashloo](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0013037/?ref_=tt_cl_t4). Any article that mentions her is required by law to describe her voice. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/42 "2021-02-10T22:13:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Fran Drescher the same way. Yep. She uses her real voice at a sushi bar after sampling the wasabi. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3YLkLOYrswU/maxresdefault.jpg "Fran Eats Wasabi! | The Nanny") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YLkLOYrswU&t=146) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/43 "2021-02-10T22:16:37Z")
John Denver. I was listening to a Mitchell Trio song the other day when my wife walked in. She listened to about five words and said, “Lord, John has a distinctive voice, doesn’t he?” ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/44 "2021-02-10T22:20:13Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > One who hasn’t yet been mentioned is Clancy Brown. I think of him as the Kurgan in _Highlander_ , but with his deep, often growly voice, he has done a ton of voiceover work, most notably as Lex Luthor in various DC animated shows, and as Mr. Krabs in _SpongeBob SquarePants_ . For many years, Clancy Brown was the Kurgan to me, regardless of the role he was actually playing. After his voicework in _Justice League/Justice League Unlimited_, I now can’t hear him as anyone else other than Lex Luthor, regardless of the role he’s actually playing. It’s kind of unfortunate for me, because I really like him as a performer, but it’s hard for me to engage with the role he’s actually playing. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/45 "2021-02-10T22:30:46Z")
One of the first actors I thought of for this thread was [Jared Harris](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0364813/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1). Except that I recently heard part of and interview on NPR - I turned it on halfway through - and I _thought_ I instantly recognized his voice. But I got confused because of the subject matter - did Jared Harris write a history book? At the end of the interview, the interviewer said the name of the subject, and it wasn’t Jared Harris at all - it was a British historian, who sounded _exactly_ like Jared Harris to me. So, tl;dr, I’ve always thought Jared Harris had a very distinctive voice, but apparently it’s not as distinctive to me as I had thought. A couple of others I haven’t seen mentioned yet: [David Warner](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001831/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) (who will always be the one and only Ra’s al Ghul to me - I genuinely thought Liam Neeson was deliberately referencing his voice work in _Batman Begins_). [Peter Woodward](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940974/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/46 "2021-02-10T22:40:27Z")
Roger Allam. You may know him from such performances as “the thick of it” and “cabin pressure”. Truly one of the great voices and a fine actor. Here’s a clip of him giving it [full King Lear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn955417swY), because why not? ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/47 "2021-02-10T22:58:08Z")
I thought of Jimmy Stewart, but is it his voice that’s distinctive or is it the “aw shucks” manner/persona? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/48 "2021-02-10T23:07:29Z")
Definitely his voice; he’s identifiable on radio. In classic Hollywood, Eugene “The Human Bullfrog” was very distinctive. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Fp6bse_RNcM/hqdefault.jpg "TCM What A Character: Eugene Pallette") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp6bse_RNcM) ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/49 "2021-02-10T23:11:50Z")
Also Jaret Reddick, lead singer of Bowling for Soup (and also Love Handel), whom astute viewers might recognize as the modern voice of Charleston Entertainment Cheese. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khkF1fho47o) When my kids were little and they began watching Phineas and Ferb, my wife immediately recognized Jaret and the boys singing the theme song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CQ3FxXzNk7M/hqdefault.jpg "Phineas and Ferb - bowling for soup") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ3FxXzNk7M) ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/50 "2021-02-10T23:42:54Z")
John Lithgow. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/51 "2021-02-10T23:44:53Z")
Most actors, really. I’m far better at recognizing voices than faces, sometimes to the point where figuring out who someone is gets easier if I close my eyes. One that came up recently: [François Chau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Chau). I was playing _Ghost of Tsushima_ and instantly recognized his voice, though I couldn’t place it right away. After a while I realized he played a character in the early seasons of _The Expanse_ (and some other roles). ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/52 "2021-02-10T23:52:23Z")
[John Fiedler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fiedler), whose distinctive high voice made him perfect for voicing Piglet. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/53 "2021-02-11T00:24:59Z")
Boris Karloff [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ppWrbYC3WwQ/hqdefault.jpg "How the Grinch Stole Christmas - Clip") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppWrbYC3WwQ) Mason Adams. https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1gbQC3ZPfs?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLepmcWUt_wgZA8OLfkmf2VvIyAtd39PG1 Pamelyn Ferdin then: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NSeLFge0Sv0/hqdefault.jpg "Odd Couple S2 this room is a fire hazard") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSeLFge0Sv0) Pamelyn Ferdin now: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kzRu4Yld8yo/hqdefault.jpg "Pamelyn Ferdin - Animal Activist") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzRu4Yld8yo) ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/54 "2021-02-11T01:51:35Z")
Peppa’s ALIVE?!? ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/55 "2021-02-11T01:54:42Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Boris Karloff Since we’re mentioning the Grinch, we should remember [Thurl Ravenscroft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurl_Ravenscroft), too! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rUl8dyaUIqo/maxresdefault.jpg "Many Voices of Thurl Ravenscroft (Animated Tribute - Tony the Tiger - Disneyland)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUl8dyaUIqo) ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/56 "2021-02-11T02:00:54Z")
Not only is did he have a distinctive voice, he had a kickass name (as far as I can tell, that was his actual birth name, not a stage name). _And_ the kickass name matched his voice. I mean, if you asked me to imagine what someone named “Thurl Ravenscroft” would sound like, that voice is exactly what I would have imagined. ---
**Author:** ![Redcanoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b487fb/32.png) [@Redcanoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redcanoe)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/57 "2021-02-11T02:15:16Z")
Yeardley Smith. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/58 "2021-02-11T02:18:06Z")
Arthur Q. Bryan is also fairly distinctive and his voice is exactly what you think Arthur Q. Bryan should sound like. He was the voice of Elmer Fudd and he looked a lot like him, too. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/59 "2021-02-11T02:46:46Z")
I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned John Wayne yet. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/60 "2021-02-11T02:58:06Z")
Denis Leary and Dean Winters, who also appeared together as brothers on Rescue Me. You’ll recognize them instantly on the Ford F-150 and Allstate (Mayhem) commercials. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606.md?page=4)