It’s the classic case of “God, I know that voice!”
That nagging feeling you get when you catch a commercial on TV or the radio, the voice-over kicks in, and all you can do is focus on who the voice belongs to—we’ve all experienced it. And more often than not, the voice you’re dying to identify indeed belongs to a celebrity you may not have considered a candidate for such work.
Lots of employed actors dabble in voice-over gigs for a variety of products worldwide. Although you are more likely to find Leonardo DiCaprio schilling a product on camera somewhere outside of America, celebrities have yet to be phased by the voice-over. It’s a paycheck without the face time, and there are plenty of famous voices doing some of the most recognizable commercial spots.
Patrick Dempsey—State Farm Commercials
Dempsey certainly doesn’t need to do voice-over work with a face like that, but he still manages to squeeze in pitches between all the Grey’s Anatomy dramas. Those voice stints include work for State Farm as well as Mazda. His signature vocal pitch gives him away every time, but it’s still entertaining to hear Dempsey at work while not actually seeing him at work.
John Corbett—Applebee’s
He’s usually playing the handsome “every man” in shows like Sex and the City and Showtime’s United States of Tara, which is exactly why his voice-over seems to work so well for a restaurant chain that claims to cater to all types of family or friendly get togethers. When Corbett says, “It’s a whole new neighborhood,” you kind of find yourself buying it.
Campbell Scott—Chevron
A strong and authoritative speaker without being preachy, Scott is currently lending his vocal talents to Chevron’s new “Power of Human Energy” campaign, which includes TV spots for the big oil corporation. His voice is soothing without sounding condescending, much like the Scott we’ve come to know and love in his film work.
Allison Janney—Kaiser Permanente
Janney is best known for her quirky supporting roles in films like Juno and her Emmy-winning turn in NBC’s The West Wing, but she’s also the voice in Kaiser Permanente’s “Thrive” campaign, reminding us to “[c]hange, and the world changes with you.” I’ll take that kind of advice from “C.J. Cregg” over some unknown medical professional any time.
Jeff Bridges—Duracell Batteries
Like the trusted batteries themselves, Bridges manages to bring authority to his delivery, even if many associate him with White Russians and bowling. The actor famous his role in The Big Lebowski has a lot of big projects before him, including the remake of Disney’s Tron, but his voice now resonates with those looking for the best battery outside of the Energizer bunny.
Billy Crudup—MasterCard
He’s one of several independent film actors (see Campbell Scott for Chevron) who has a voice that’s benign enough to run across a commercial spot without being too invasive, which is great for an ad campaign that has been priceless on its own merit. Discovering that Crudup pitches that now-classic line is like icing on a cool-campaign cake.
