# 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:** 5
**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 13, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/81 "2021-02-13T20:06:10Z")
Edward Herrman (RIP) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y5zF3iTcPeM/maxresdefault.jpg "Narrator EDWARD HERRMANN discusses Stephen King's THE DUNE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5zF3iTcPeM) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/82 "2021-02-13T20:11:16Z")
C’mon, people: Christopher Walken! ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/83 "2021-02-13T21:08:12Z")
> [@SoToasty](#): > > Alan Rickman (Severus Snape from Harry Potter). Re-watched Robin hood from the 90’s and immediately know it was him. The distintive voice in that movie for me was Michael Wincott. He’s also in The Crow, Strange Days, and Alien: Resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/84 "2021-02-14T04:04:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’m not understanding that people are listing voice actors. Many of them have used hundreds of different voices depending on the roles. Even prolific commercial voice actors are often unrecognizable. If you’ve heard them enough times in enough things, and you know it’s them, you can’t not hear them in other things. ---
**Author:** ![Tilt-A-Whirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@Tilt-A-Whirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tilt-A-Whirl)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/85 "2021-02-15T04:33:10Z")
I heard Norah Jones on A Prairie Home Companion, and was just astonished at what a lovely speaking voice she has. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/86 "2021-02-15T09:11:45Z")
The first thought I had when I read the thread title was James Gammon who had two great lines in two different movies that were personal favorites. In **Major League** he was a tire salesman being offered the job of managing in the big leagues for the Cleveland Indians and says: “You’ll have to call back, I got a guy on hold who wants to buy a new set of whitewalls.” And in **Silverado** he has this great line: “I think there are just a couple a guys up there and this asshole (points thumb at Scott Glenn) is one of ‘em.” > **[James Gammon - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0304000/?ref_=tt_cl_t5)** > > James Gammon. Actor: Major League. Rugged-looking James Gammon first broke into the entertainment industry not as an actor but as a TV cameraman. From there, his weatherbeaten features, somewhat menacing attitude and a tough-as-nails voice--the kind... Then I recently caught the last half hour of **The Lady Eve** on TV and heard Eugene Pallette’s voice. He was not on screen, but I instantly knew it was him, the clergyman who also happened to be a fencing master from both **The Adventures of Robin Hood** and **The Mark of Zorro** (which are practically the same movie with only the male and female lead actors being changed). I would guess he has the most distinctive voice I have ever heard and would further guess that anyone who is familiar with his work would agree it is unique. > **[Eugene Pallette - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657874/?ref_=nmmi_mi_nm)** > > Eugene Pallette. Actor: The Adventures of Robin Hood. This eminently recognizable, bulbous, beetle-browed character actor left Culver Military Academy and began acting in repertory companies before becoming a Hollywood extra and stunt man. Eugene's... As an afterthought, Basil Rathbone was in both movies also and his voice was quite distinctive also. It seems someone else mentioned this upthread but I can say for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/87 "2021-02-15T09:35:37Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Definitely his voice; he’s identifiable on radio. > > In classic Hollywood, Eugene “The Human Bullfrog” was very distinctive. Well no one mentioned Basil Rathbone in this thread, but **RealityChuck** beat me to the punch with Eugene Pallette by five days. Well done sir. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum\_45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum_45/32/3385_2.png) [@eburacum\_45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum_45)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/88 "2021-02-15T10:11:02Z")
Alec Guinness had a distinctive voice, even though he had remarkable range as an actor. It is interesting to see that both Ewan McGregor and Gary Oldman used voices resembling Sir Alec’s when they played roles which he had made famous, as Obi Wan Kenobi and George Smiley respectively. ---
**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 15, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/89 "2021-02-15T16:12:57Z")
> [@Tilt-A-Whirl](#): > > I heard Norah Jones on A Prairie Home Companion, and was just astonished at what a lovely speaking voice she has. There was never any mistaking Garrison Keillor’s voice either. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/90 "2021-02-15T20:25:39Z")
Jack Nicholson Paul Lynde Jack Benny Mick Jagger Louis Armstrong Bob Dylan Adam West James Shatner ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/91 "2021-02-15T20:44:07Z")
[John O’Hurley](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_O'Hurley), better known in our house as, "[That Dog Show Guy."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Q44hXFvTo) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/92 "2021-02-15T20:53:21Z")
Could we get any entries in a thread about Actors/performers with non-distinctive voices? Harpo Marx was mentioned earlier, but strictly speaking about ‘voice’ alone then all the silent performers have the same non-distinctive voice. Even Ben Stein who developed the world’s dullest voice, “Bueller…Bueller…”, has a distinctive voice because it is so dull. ---
**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 15, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/93 "2021-02-15T21:15:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Could we get any entries in a thread about Actors/performers with non-distinctive voices? Sam Worthington. He’s got to be the _least_ distinctive A-lister _ever_. Ok, I don’t know if he was ever really considered an A-lister, but he was the lead in a number of high-profile blockbusters, and just…_nothing_ about him seemed distinctive. Voice, appearance, mannerisms, acting skill…he wasn’t _bad_, but he wasn’t really _good_, he was just…there. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/94 "2021-02-16T00:05:06Z")
David Attenborough is an interesting case. I don’t think there is anything particularly distinctive about his voice. It’s a pleasant older English gentleman’s voice. But because I’ve heard it so many times on documentaries I will always be able to pick it out. ---
**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 16, 2021, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/95 "2021-02-16T04:09:34Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > The first thought I had when I read the thread title was James Gammon who had two great lines in two different movies that were personal favorites. > > In **Major League** he was a tire salesman being offered the job of managing in the big leagues for the Cleveland Indians and says: “You’ll have to call back, I got a guy on hold who wants to buy a new set of whitewalls.” And in **Silverado** he has this great line: “I think there are just a couple a guys up there and this asshole (points thumb at Scott Glenn) is one of ‘em.” > > James Gammon, Actor: Major League. Rugged-looking James Gammon first broke into the entertainment industry not as an actor but as a TV cameraman. From there, his weatherbeaten features, somewhat menacing attitude and a tough-as-nails voice–the kind… > > Then I recently caught the last half hour of **The Lady Eve** on TV and heard Eugene Pallette’s voice. He was not on screen, but I instantly knew it was him, the clergyman who also happened to be a fencing master from both **The Adventures of Robin Hood** and **The Mark of Zorro** (which are practically the same movie with only the male and female lead actors being changed). I would guess he has the most distinctive voice I have ever heard and would further guess that anyone who is familiar with his work would agree it is unique. Let us not forget he also played Nash Bridges’ dad on Nash Bridges. ---
**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 16, 2021, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/96 "2021-02-16T08:43:08Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > David Attenborough is an interesting case. I don’t think there is anything particularly distinctive about his voice. It’s a pleasant older English gentleman’s voice. But because I’ve heard it so many times on documentaries I will always be able to pick it out. what he has…is a very specific…modulation, of tone…and pace. ---
**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 16, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/97 "2021-02-16T13:14:06Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > In **Major League** he was a tire salesman being offered the job of managing in the big leagues for the Cleveland Indians and says: “You’ll have to call back, I got a guy on hold who wants to buy a new set of whitewalls.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Npx5Xed5L9Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Lou Brown has a heart attack in Major League II") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npx5Xed5L9Q) ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/98 "2021-02-16T13:46:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Could we get any entries in a thread about Actors/performers with non-distinctive voices? I think some of the actors upthread qualify. I mean, any voice can be distinctive if you’ve listened to them long enough, but Aaron Paul (Jesse from Breaking Bad) was mentioned earlier as having a distinctive voice… I just don’t see it. Similarly Mila Kunis (also mentioned earlier as having a ‘distinctive’ voice). I’m sure if you played a 5 second clip of her, Spencer Grammer (Summer from Rick and Morty), Kristen Bell, and Anna Kendrick, I could _probably_ sort them all out, especially if I could hear it a few times, but I’m not confident. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/99 "2021-02-16T17:26:51Z")
I didn’t see Walter Brennan. ---
**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 16, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606/100 "2021-02-16T20:49:53Z")
“R”, as in “Robert Loggia”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Qm7bgcRVhQ0/hqdefault.jpg "Robert Loggia - Family Guy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm7bgcRVhQ0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-performers-with-distinctive-voices/932606.md?page=6)