Harold "Hal" Douglas was an American voice actor best known for performing thousands of voice-overs for movie trailers, television commercials, and stage plays over the course of a six-decade career.
September 1, 1924, Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Died
March 7, 2014, Lovettsville, Virginia, United States
Place Of Birth
Stamford
Profession
Voice Actor
Education
University of Miami
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Ruth Francis Douglas
Children
Daughter Sarah, sons Jeremy and Jon
Nicknames
哈爾·道格拉斯
Movies
The Holiday
Star Sign
Virgo
#
Trademark
1
Often started trailers he narrated with the phrase "In a world ..."
2
Distinctive gravelly baritone voice.
#
Quote
1
Movies, particularly, fall into departments. You have an action film, you have a romantic film, you have the dark films. They all suggest an attitude and a voice quality. I don't do character voices per se, but depending upon the emotion, try to approach it as an actor.
2
I'm not outstanding in any way. It's a craft that you learn, like making a good pair of shoes. And I just consider myself a good shoemaker.
3
[on his voiceover work] I'm not outstanding in any way. It's a craft that you learn, like making a good pair of shoes. And I just consider myself a good shoemaker.
4
[on his distinctive gravelly baritone] I never thought of it as a great voice.
5
[describing his voice] Throaty, chesty, a voice in need of clearing.
#
Fact
1
His parents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.
2
Worked for a decade in advertising prior to moving into full-time voiceover work in the mid-1960's.
3
After moving to New York, he changed his last name to Douglas. He supplemented his small income from acting jobs with voice-over and announcing work on radio and television. He became much sought-after for commercials and lead-ins for TV shows.
4
He trained as a pilot and spent three years in the Navy during WWII. He wrote fiction in his free time. After the war he studied acting at the University of Miami on the GI bill.
5
His voice can be heard in a lot of movie trailers, he's known as "In a world..." guy.
6
Described by a Miramax publicist as "perhaps the most recognizable trailer voice in the business."
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Holiday
2006
Movie Trailer Narrator (voice)
Johnny Bravo
2004
TV Series
Hal Douglas
Waterworld
1995
Narrator (voice, uncredited)
Disney's Halloween Treat
1982
Video
Narrator
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Five Men and a Limo
1997
Short special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Toronto Maple Leafs Forever: The Tradition of the Toronto Maple Leafs
2002
Video documentary
Narrator (voice)
HBO First Look
1997-1999
TV Series documentary
Narrator
Five Men and a Limo
1997
Short
Himself (uncredited)
Houdini
1996
Documentary
Narrator (voice)
NHL: Overtime
1996
Video documentary
Narrator (voice)
Rebels with a Cause: The Story of the American Football League