# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/21 "2015-09-15T20:26:33Z")
**Paul Frees** – distinctive voice actor heard in many 1950s and 1960s movies (including **Spartacus** , he was also the voice of Boris Badenov, Ludwig von Drake, Inspecor Fenwick, and countless voices in Disney and UPI cartoons and Rankin-Bass Productions. He sang in _Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol_ and as Ludwig von Drake, and in \*Gay Purree opposite Judy Garland and Robert Goulet. He dubbed voices for foreign films into English, including \*Godzilla, Rodan, \* and _The Sword and the Dragon_. He even acted on-screen in a few science fiction films. Truly a defining voice **Mason Adams** – the voiceover in countless TV commercials, I was surprised when I finally saw the face behind that voice as an actor on **Lou Grant** , where he played editor Charlie Hume. He did plenty of other actying work and voiceovers in cartoons. **Daws Butler** – the “poor man’s Mel Blanc”. He voiced Huckleberry hound and others for Hannah-Barbera, but had previously voiced cartoon characters for MGM studio cartoons. He was Barney Rubble, Yogi Bear, and Elroy, Peter Potamus and Bingo of the Banana Splits. He was also Aesop, Jr. on Rocky and Bullwinkle. ---
**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:** [September 15, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/22 "2015-09-15T20:38:04Z")
Katherine Hepburn Bogart Strother Martin Christopher Walken Harvey Fierstein ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/23 "2015-09-15T20:55:17Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Fine list! …not bad, but only 6 women out of 50? _ **Totally selfish, because women’s voices make my day** _ [http://www.thetoptens.com/woman-with-sexiest-voice/](http://www.thetoptens.com/woman-with-sexiest-voice/) ---
**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, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/24 "2015-09-15T21:49:06Z")
> [@simster](#): > > uh, what? Since he guest starred on the show _ **as himself** _ what other voice would you expect him to use? I admit that I have heard very little of Hawking’s voice in any setting. I do remember his last line from a Simpsons episode: Homer: Let’s go to Duffy ’ s for a beer. Hawking: That’s the most sensible thing anyone has said to me all day! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/25 "2015-09-15T22:13:16Z")
[Henry Jones](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428216/?ref_=tt_cl_t5). One of those character actors you recognize but can’t put a name to. And since Kiefer Sutherland has been mentioned, I think Donald Sutherland has an even more distinctive voice. I believe he is still selling Volvos and orange juice. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/26 "2015-09-15T22:23:20Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > [Shrug] Okay… then I suppose that’s the voice he used when he “guested” on “The Simpsons.” It’s also the voice he uses on “Big Bang Theory”. My choice for this thread: [Yma Sumac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIgvnGtAg7c) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/27 "2015-09-15T23:34:09Z")
Tony Bennett ---
**Author:** ![brovolone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@brovolone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brovolone)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/28 "2015-09-15T23:39:07Z")
Lois from Family Guy ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/29 "2015-09-16T00:16:12Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Tony Bennett If we’re going that route: Joe Cocker Frank Sinatra Harry Belafonte Tom Jones Gregg Alman ---
**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 16, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/30 "2015-09-16T00:37:20Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > [Henry Jones](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428216/?ref_=tt_cl_t5). One of those character actors you recognize but can’t put a name to. > > And since Kiefer Sutherland has been mentioned, I think Donald Sutherland has an even more distinctive voice. I believe he is still selling Volvos and orange juice. Save the bones for Henry Jones 'cause Henry don’t eat no meat. Click! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/31 "2015-09-16T00:40:16Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > If we’re going that route: > > Joe Cocker > Frank Sinatra > Harry Belafonte > Tom Jones > Gregg Alman I was implying that Tony Bennett’s speaking voice is VERY similar to his singing voice (at least to these old, busted ears). ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/32 "2015-09-16T00:51:38Z")
[Senator Everett Dirksen](http://youtu.be/7Au2-J-3on0) 50 years ago, everybody in Northern Illinois sounded like this. Not as gravelly and orotund, but still similar. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/33 "2015-09-16T00:56:03Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Mason Adams** – the voiceover in countless TV commercials, I was surprised when I finally saw the face behind that voice as an actor on **Lou Grant** , where he played editor Charlie Hume. He did plenty of other actying work and voiceovers in cartoons. Once again, **Cal** , you anticipate me. I came in to this thread specifically to post him, but you beat me to it. You do this way too often. Mason Adams did the old Smucker’s jelly commercials: _“With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be good!”_ Now I have to come up with someone else… Nah, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/34 "2015-09-16T00:58:08Z")
Psst, hey **BrotherCadfael,** I’ll let you have Rod Serling. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/35 "2015-09-16T00:59:20Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I was implying that Tony Bennett’s speaking voice is VERY similar to his singing voice (at least to these old, busted ears). Interesting angle, for sure. I was more thinking about not needing an announcer/DJ to identify who was singing. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/36 "2015-09-16T01:00:27Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Psst, hey **BrotherCadfael,** I’ll let you have Rod Serling. WAIT! I GOT ONE! **Geoffrey Holder** ---
**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 16, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/37 "2015-09-16T01:17:49Z")
The ANTI-distinctive voice: Edward Binns ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/38 "2015-09-16T01:31:42Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My choice for this thread: > > [Yma Sumac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIgvnGtAg7c) I’ll see your Yma Sumac and raise you one [Minnie Riperton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0pwJ5PMDg) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/39 "2015-09-16T01:54:16Z")
Angela Lansbury ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362/40 "2015-09-16T02:11:52Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > Fran Drescher > Stephen Hawking Slight hijack: When Fran Drescher drops the nasal, cat-being strangled voice, she–no foolin’–has the kind of voice that a guy wants to hear at 3AM purring _Honey, do me again_. I can’t find the Letterman clip (easily 15+ years ago) where she demonstrated this voice, but it’s worth it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distinctive-voices/731362.md?page=3)