Hal Douglas
Encyclopedia
Hal Douglas is a retired American
voice actor best known for his work on movie trailers and television commercials.
, Connecticut
, served in World War II
, and attended the University of Miami
in Florida
as a drama major. He began a career in radio in the 1950s. By the 1960s, he had become a producer for several prominent advertising agencies in New York City
. He finally moved into doing voice-overs for commercials, promos, and trailers by the early 1970s, and would continue doing so until the late 2000s.
Because many of his trailers have begun with the words "In a world", there is controversy over whether his voice has immortalized them (Don LaFontaine
claimed to have actually created the catchphrase). In addition, Douglas has been the promotional voice for the former WB, A&E
, Disney Channel
's "Vault Disney" (1997–2002), and The History Channel
.
He did the voiceover narration for the Detroit Red Wings 1997 championship documentary film.
Because he has recorded so many trailers through the years, he has sometimes been mistaken for Don LaFontaine
. He can be seen parodying himself in the trailer for Comedian, a documentary that features Jerry Seinfeld
.
Douglas provided narration for the trailer for the novel All The Talk Is Dead by Michael Ebner.
Unlike most movie trailer announcers, Douglas lives in Northern
Virginia
and his agent is based in New York City
instead of Los Angeles
. Hal Douglas has been described by a Miramax publicist as "perhaps the most recognizable trailer voice in the business."
, featuring other notable voiceover recording artists, such as Don LaFontaine
, John Leader, Nick Tate
, Al Chalk
, and Mark Elliot.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
voice actor best known for his work on movie trailers and television commercials.
Life and career
Douglas was born in StamfordStamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and attended the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
as a drama major. He began a career in radio in the 1950s. By the 1960s, he had become a producer for several prominent advertising agencies in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He finally moved into doing voice-overs for commercials, promos, and trailers by the early 1970s, and would continue doing so until the late 2000s.
Because many of his trailers have begun with the words "In a world", there is controversy over whether his voice has immortalized them (Don LaFontaine
Don LaFontaine
Donald Leroy "Don" LaFontaine was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included "Thunder Throat" and "The Voice of God"...
claimed to have actually created the catchphrase). In addition, Douglas has been the promotional voice for the former WB, A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
's "Vault Disney" (1997–2002), and The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
.
He did the voiceover narration for the Detroit Red Wings 1997 championship documentary film.
Because he has recorded so many trailers through the years, he has sometimes been mistaken for Don LaFontaine
Don LaFontaine
Donald Leroy "Don" LaFontaine was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included "Thunder Throat" and "The Voice of God"...
. He can be seen parodying himself in the trailer for Comedian, a documentary that features Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
.
Douglas provided narration for the trailer for the novel All The Talk Is Dead by Michael Ebner.
Unlike most movie trailer announcers, Douglas lives in Northern
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and his agent is based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
instead of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Hal Douglas has been described by a Miramax publicist as "perhaps the most recognizable trailer voice in the business."
5 Men and a Limo
Douglas's voice briefly appears in the skit 5 Men and a Limo5 Men and a Limo
5 Men and a Limo is a 1997 American short film produced by Aspect Ratio Films as an introduction sketch for the 26th Annual Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards. In the film voiceover actor Don LaFontaine picks up four other voiceover actors in his limo to travel to the awards...
, featuring other notable voiceover recording artists, such as Don LaFontaine
Don LaFontaine
Donald Leroy "Don" LaFontaine was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included "Thunder Throat" and "The Voice of God"...
, John Leader, Nick Tate
Nick Tate
Nicholas John "Nick" Tate is an Australian actor best known for his role as Eagle pilot Alan Carter in both seasons of the 1970s science fiction television series Space: 1999, as well as for playing the role of Gordon Hamilton's errant brother James in the 1980's soap opera "Sons and...
, Al Chalk
Al Chalk
Al Chalk is an African American voice actor. He has voiced thousands of movie trailers, TV promos, commercials, and other audio presentations. He has also appeared on-camera in Hollywood films and television programs....
, and Mark Elliot.