# Distinctive voices **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362 "2015-09-15T14:41:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/1 "2015-09-15T14:41:33Z")
How many well-known people have voices you would recognize in an instant? Louis Armstrong with his deep gravelly voice. Carol Channing, who one writer said ‘talks like a duck.’ Penn Jillette with his booming voice. “Froggy” Laughlin (Our Gang) who talked like Popeye. Any other examples, please? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/2 "2015-09-15T14:43:55Z")
John Lithgow’s smooth tenor (and pig squeal) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/3 "2015-09-15T14:53:39Z")
Gilbert Gottfried. Bobcat Goldthwait. Jim Gaffigan. James Earl Jones(who wouldn’t?) ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/4 "2015-09-15T15:07:32Z")
Fran Drescher Stephen Hawking ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/5 "2015-09-15T15:08:48Z")
Morgan Freeman Miss Piggy ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/6 "2015-09-15T15:09:58Z")
Without naming specifics, (I could go on and on since I pay special attention to people’s voices and have since the radio was my only form of entertainment) I would list those voice actors whose talents have been put to use in advertising. I pride myself in identifying them and calling such to my wife’s attention. She usually agrees once I have made the connection. But there are some unlikely spokespeople whose voices are really authoritative or persuasive when they’re not connected to a face. Some counter-intuitive examples just to make the point: Jon Hamm – is selling cars with just his voice Dennis Hopper – Japanese ads are among his more interesting work! Kiefer Sutherland – although sometimes his face is there as a clue! 😉 Robert Mitchum – “Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.” William Conrad – was Matt Dillon on the radio Mel Blanc – no list would be complete without him! Of the presidents, can anybody top Bill Clinton? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/7 "2015-09-15T15:10:54Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Miss Piggy Kermit the Frog here ETA: Am I so going to hell for mentioning Steven Hawking? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/8 "2015-09-15T15:12:35Z")
Walter Cronkite Jeremy Irons Alan Rickman Ian McShane Oh… look what I found. [IMDB 50 Actors/actresses with the best and most distinctive voices in cinema](http://www.imdb.com/list/ls000505914/) I can’t say I agree with the list in its entirety; but there’s definitely a lot on there that I would not have thought of. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/9 "2015-09-15T15:20:13Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > … > Oh… look what I found. > [IMDB 50 Actors/actresses with the best and most distinctive voices in cinema](http://www.imdb.com/list/ls000505914/) > I can’t say I agree with the list in its entirety; but there’s definitely a lot on there that I would not have thought of. Fine list! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/10 "2015-09-15T15:23:31Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Kermit the Frog here > > ETA: Am I so going to hell for mentioning Steven Hawking? **Small Clanger** gets to drive the handbasket. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/11 "2015-09-15T15:28:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > **Small Clanger** gets to drive the handbasket. I think it’s a bit cruel, because Hawking doesn’t actually have a voice, but uses a voice synthesizer. That’s not the same thing, is it? ---
**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:** [September 15, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/12 "2015-09-15T15:37:03Z")
I’d add Michael Wincott to the list. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/13 "2015-09-15T17:36:25Z")
Since there’s a poster called Small Clanger, for any British person of a certain age, any Clanger is instantly recognisable. [www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MMqKgshQCk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MMqKgshQCk) Oh, and Joan Rivers. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/14 "2015-09-15T17:40:02Z")
Michael Douglas James Cagney John Wayne Jimmy Stewart ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/15 "2015-09-15T19:33:02Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Oh… look what I found. > [IMDB 50 Actors/actresses with the best and most distinctive voices in cinema](http://www.imdb.com/list/ls000505914/) Well shoot. Without Slim Pickens on that list, it’s emptier’n a survival kit with no miniature combination Rooshan phrasebook and bible. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/16 "2015-09-15T19:36:11Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I think it’s a bit cruel, because Hawking doesn’t actually have a voice, but uses a voice synthesizer. That’s not the same thing, is it? it is still his ‘voice’ - regardless of how it is achieved. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/17 "2015-09-15T19:38:26Z")
Charles Durning Sam Elliot ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/18 "2015-09-15T20:03:02Z")
> [@simster](#): > > it is still his ‘voice’ - regardless of how it is achieved. [Shrug] Okay… then I suppose that’s the voice he used when he “guested” on “The Simpsons.” ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/19 "2015-09-15T20:13:23Z")
Bob Uecker’s voice is really distinctive to me. I can recognize Shaquille O’Neal’s voice on the radio without any identification with the number of commercials he does. The late Lorenzo Music had a distinctive voice, whether he played Carlton the doorman, Garfield, or Peter Venkman in “The Real Ghostbusters.” ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/20 "2015-09-15T20:26:31Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > [Shrug] Okay… then I suppose that’s the voice he used when he “guested” on “The Simpsons.” uh, what? Since he guest starred on the show _ **as himself** _ what other voice would you expect him to use? [QUOTE=[They Saved Lisa's Brain - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Saved_Lisa's_Brain)] “They Saved Lisa’s Brain” features English theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking as himself. [/QUOTE] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362.md?page=2)