Short Stuff: The Voice of God

Don LaFontaine, widely known as the "Voice of God," revolutionized the movie trailer industry through a prolific career that included over 5,000 film trailers and 750,000 television spots. He pioneered the modern trailer format, notably cementing the iconic "In a world" catchphrase as a rapid, effective tool for establishing narrative stakes. Starting as a recording engineer, LaFontaine transitioned into voiceover work after a 1965 scheduling mishap, eventually dominating the industry for decades across major networks and award shows. Despite the monotonous nature of professional voiceover work, he maintained a successful career until his passing in 2008. His legacy persists through numerous parodies and his status as a cultural icon in Hollywood, even as the industry evolved from in-house production to the specialized, high-stakes marketing landscape he helped define.