Posts Tagged “Don LaFontaine”

GEICO has been using multiple pitch-persons for some time now. “Persons” is something of a misnomer…they’ve used cavemen, a variety of celebrities (my faves are Don LaFontaine, Peter Frampton, Michael Winslow, and Mrs. Butterworths) and, of course, the GEICO Gecko.

The very cockney gekko has been around since 1999, making him one of the more successful of insurance mascots. As he’s a 3D animated pitchman, he’s not changed much in the last 9 years (which is more than I can say for most of us.) While the cavemen went on to a shortlived series, the gecko has stayed true to his commercial roots. Interestingly, the gekko commercials have actually been both very consistent, and if anything, better over the years.

The latest one manages to poke gentle fun at GEICO itself, without making the viewer feel as if they’re being conned, and without the humor making us think less of the sponsor, just to get a laugh. That’s pretty amazing. Read the rest of this entry »

I am sorry to report that Don LaFontaine, master voiceover artist, has passed away on Labor Day. He was 68.

I never met Don in person, but I had the opportunity to work with him on some TV spots, and I know his wife, Anita, well. (She’s from my hometown of Shreveport, LA, and my Dad wrote the arrangement she used of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” to go to the Miss American pageant, as Miss Louisiana.)

By all accounts, everyone that knew Don called him a great guy. My cousin (who visited Don and Anita in California a bunch) tells me he was witty, with a wicked sense of humor, and not at all pompous or distant in the way that celebrities can be. I can attest personally to the fact that he was generous to a fault, and was willing to “put his money where his mouth is” when it comes to causes he would support.

It’s hard for me to think about Don in the past tense. While there are other voiceover artists that mimic’d Don’s style and delivery, there will never be another Don LaFontaine. My heart and prayers go out to Anita and their kids in what must be a very difficult time. Please keep them in your prayers.

In a world of advertising, where too few voiceover artists have the ability to create a distinctive sound, Don LaFontaine will be missed.