26 August 2009

The Top 10 Most Recognizable Voices in Hollywood

10. Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood isn't a huge name, but that didn't stop me from including him on this list. His best known role so far was Captain Christopher Pike in the Star Trek reboot. Again, not a huge part, but the popular trailer had a very charming and mesmerizing voice-over done by Greenwood. Greenwood has also appeared as the president in the National Treasure movies, and has had minor roles in I, Robot and The Core.

9. Ewan McGregor

McGregor, apart from being a really fantastic actor, has one of the coolest accents in the history of ever. Best known for playing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the three newest Star Wars movies, the Scottish actor has also been in Angels and Demons and Moulin Rouge! Check out this interview and tell me that you couldn't pick out his voice in a group of people.

8. Sam Elliott

Elliott has been in dozens of movies, including The Big Lebowski, Tombstone, and Gettysburg, but it's commercials that have him in the homes of every American. From Chevy commercials to Coors beer commercials, Elliott has a gruff voice that reminds everyone of their grandpa.

7. Bill Nighy

Nighy (not to be confused with Bill Nigh the science guy) is more well known over in the U.K. but almost every American knows him as the voice of Davy Jones in the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I first fell in love with Nighy when he appeared as Simon Pegg's stepfather in my favorite movie of all time, Shaun of the Dead. He's also appeared in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Underworld movies with Kate Beckinsale, and is set to appear in the final two Harry Potter movies.

6. Alan Rickman

Another person on this list connected to Harry Potter is Alan Rickman, who everyone knows plays Professor Snape (quite perfectly, I might add). Rickman has a unique English accent and drawn out words that can send chills up your spine if you're on the receiving end of a scowl. This isn't technically him, but this is one of the funniest impressions ever.

5. Ian McKellen

McKellen is definitely the biggest star so far in this list, thanks to his roles as Magneto in the X-Men franchise and as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. Check out this video of Gandalf talking about death.

4. Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee has performed or lent his voice to over 260 movies or video games, and for good reason. Lee first became famous for portraying Dracula in a series of films, and has recently been seen in the three latest Star Wars movies as Count Dooku, and in The Lord of the Ring trilogy as Saruman. Listen to this video and tell me you wouldn't love to hear him read you a story

3. Christopher Walken

Where to start with this man? I think it's safe to say that he has the most unique and strange Brooklyn accent in history. Most people have at one time or another tried to do an impression of him, and most have failed miserably. While Walken isn't known for having big roles in movies, almost everyone knows him from the famous SNL sketch that parodied Blue Oyster Cult, and his famous "I've got a fever! And the only prescription is more cowbell!" Since everyone and their mother has seen that, I'll feature this video of Walken reading The Three Little Pigs.

2. Morgan Freeman

Jump to 1:30 on this video. Enough said

There's a tie for first. I couldn't decide, so I had to split it.

1a. James Earl Jones

Jones is a great actor by himself, but his role in history is secure because he is the voice of Darth Vader, who is probably the most famous character in the history of cinema, and that makes him number 1a. Just listening to him speak makes me cry.

1b. Sean Connery

The original James Bond has it all. Great acting chops, good looks up into his late 70's, a long career in film, and THE voice. Not one man alive can say that he hasn't tried to do a Sean Connery impression. Connery's voice is so will recognized, I'm not even linking a video.

EDIT: I just realized that I left out a HUGE entry: Liam Neeson. Too lazy to change the list, so this will have to work for now.

2 comments:

  1. Nice, nice...very nice :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. everyone knows morgan freeman. i heard he got arrested for an N.W.D. Narrating While Driving.

    ReplyDelete