http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QPMvj_xejg
Source: The Associated Press
Don LaFontaine, the man who popularized the catch phrase "In a world where..." and lent his voice to thousands of movie trailers, has died. He was 68. LaFontaine died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from complications in the treatment of an ongoing illness, said Vanessa Gilbert, his agent.
LaFontaine made more than 5,000 trailers in his 33-year career while working for the top studios and television networks.
In a rare on-screen appearance in 2006, he parodied himself on a series of national television commercials for a car insurance company where he played himself telling a customer, "In a world where both of our cars were totally under water..."
In an interview last year, LaFontaine explained the strategy behind the phrase.
"We have to very rapidly establish the world we are transporting them to," he said of his viewers. "That's very easily done by saying, `In a world where ... violence rules.' `In a world where ... men are slaves and women are the conquerors.' You very rapidly set the scene."
LaFontaine insisted he never cared that no one knew his name or his face, though everyone knew his voice.
LaFontaine went on to work in the promo industry in the early 1960s. As an audio engineer, he produced radio spots for movies with producer Floyd Peterson.
When an announcer didn't show up for a recording session in 1965, LaFontaine voiced his first narration, a promo for the film, "Gunfighters of Casa Grande." The client, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, liked his performance.
LaFontaine remained active until recently, averaging seven to 10 voiceover sessions a day. He worked from a home studio his wife nicknamed "The Hole," where his fax machine delivered scripts.
LaFontaine is survived by his wife, the singer and actress Nita Whitaker, and three daughters.
His funeral arrangements were pending.
Oh wow. So that was his name. He had an awesome voice...totally made movie trailers awesome. It's going to be so weird hearing the new trailer guy. R.I.P. Mr. LaFontaine. You will surely be missed.
In a world where Don LaFontaine is dead...
...trailers absolutely suck.
Damn. D=
In a world where Don LaFontaine is dead...
...trailers absolutely suck.
Damn. D=
Is it wrong that I LOLed after reading that, because it's true?
Oh man, seriously, I tried for YEARS to imitate his voice., just cause I thought that would be an awesome job to do. I still do, and whoever steps up to the plate, I both respect you and fear for you -since, unless they bring an equally memorable voice to the movie industry, they will never be revered as much as him as the voice for the movies.
Never ever will compare. I'm really going to miss him.
Dude, that BLOWS. He was awesome.
Movies are now less awesome. RIP Don. 
I can't imagine anyone being able to do movie trailers as good as him.
RIP, Don.
Pablo Francisco does a really good/funny impersonation of him in his acts. Anyways, r.i.p. man. Weren't there supposed to be like a few others now that have been doing the movie previews? I'm thinking they'll probably just keep using them.
Don was an awesome dude and he still is. May he continue to lend his golden voice to movie trailers in the astral plane!
Damn!!! I had no clue he died over a month ago!!! He actually did a spot for Sonic & Mario at the Olympic games. I don't think I've heard him do any movie trailers lately though. So many good famous people have died this year such as George Carlin.
I'd suggest not bumping a month dead topic unless you have something important to add...
I'd suggest not bumping a month dead topic unless you have something important to add...
Well I for one didn't know he did the narration for Sonic & Mario at the Olympic Games, so I would say it's important to add on the man's work.
Well I for one didn't know he did the narration for Sonic & Mario at the Olympic Games, so I would say it's important to add on the man's work.
He also did the Sonic Chronicles trailer.
