VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[colinsz1]

Who motivated you to become pursue Voice-overs? My lead inspiration to follow this path was Ben Patrick Johnson, and why not with his voice and his story of over coming adversity because of his sexual orientation? Here's a short video on his work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSudue8pPPs

[Mike Harrison]

The person whose voice and ability to turn words into images inspired me is Peter A. Thomas Sr., who began doing VO in the mid-1950s and still works today.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[kkuhlken]

Gary Owens, hands down.

Then Jim Cummings...I noticed his name before he became Pooh because he was in just about every Disney movie in the 80s and 90s in some capacity.

After Jim, Bill Farmer, aka Goofy. Met him in person once and made a lasting positive impression.
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My full name is Karl Kuhlken (think Macauly Culkin...it rhymes)

Suave, debonair, a ladies man. Sophisticated, urbane, well heeled....no, wait...that's not me

[Philip Banks]

Don't have a Voice Over hero but two people gave me that "ahaaaa!" moment. Alexis Korner and Bill Mitchell.

[Jeffrey Kafer]

Scott Brick, whom I've become friendly with and have even hired for an audiobook project.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[heyguido]

Okay.... Nobody's said it yet, so I will....

Bob Souer.

Hands down.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[todd ellis]

don - that is exactly what i came to this thread to do. he will likely blush - but bob is much more than "the 2nd nicest guy in voice over". bob is knowledgable, talented (and generous with both), a great friend and makes a pretty durn good omelet!
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bish]

Todd & Don make the point that I was thinking about. My "motivators" have always been accessible... by that, I mean that they have never been the rock-stars, A-list actors, captains of industry or celebrities... but they have been people that I can identify with. I aspire to the next step... that way you don't miss your footing while staring at the top of the ladder. I know that sounds very simple in a time when we all follow t-shirt philosophy and buy ridiculous motivational posters... but that's me I guess.

So... when I started, I was somewhat inspired by a certain curmudgeonly Brit voiceoverist who demonstrated that changing careers late in life and taking a risk could pay off. Just go for it, do the best you can and (most importantly) be yourself... not a pale pastiche of someone else. Oh... and he's got a decent set of pipes as well. I suppose
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[heyguido]

Let him blush. He's earned it.

And that Brit you speak of? He's alright by me, too.
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Don Brookshire
"Wait.... They wanna PAY me for this?"

[Lee Gordon]

I thought about naming about guys like Don Pardo and Johnny Olson and the name Bob Souer also crossed my mind. But looking back at the original post, it seemed to me this isn't about voiceoverists who have influenced us or even inspired us, at least not from a strictly "VO career" standpoint.

I think the word "hero" is bandied about far too casually these days and should be reserved for people who deliberately put themselves in harm's way in order to protect or rescue others. So even Mr. Johnson is more of a figurative, rather than literal, hero according to my criteria. Nevertheless, it's fair to say he has overcome obstacles beyond those we all typically encounter as we try to make our way in this profession.

I'm sure there are numerous others who fit the bill. although none immediately springs to mind. But I'll keep trying to think of someone.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

[Diane Maggipinto]

not a heroine at all, but a radio co-worker who, when we were both doing the fm grind, asked me to audition for a client of hers. i got the gig, the retainer, and still have that today. that gave me a very good footing to leave the low-paying aforementioned fm grind and go for it. i hadn't given vo much thought before that, honestly!

there are many i admire, such as amy snively (whose range and talent are remarkable), and connie and bobbin, who started long before i did and took the scythe to the grass to blaze a path, and cedering fox, who is a live announcer of such programs as the 2013 oscars.
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sitting at #8, though not as present as I'd like to be. Hello!

www.d3voiceworks.com

[colinsz1]

[bobsouer]

[DougVox]

Since I started in VO long before I discovered the VO-BB, I can't say that any of its denizens inspired me to pursue voice work, but I can definitely say that many of them (you!) have inspired me along the way.

As for my VO "heroes" (or rather, "guys whose work has always impressed/motivated me") I'd have to go with some of the lesser-known, but massively talented guys like Thom Sharp and Colter Rule. (Oh, and Bob.)
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Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com

[Bailey]

Thumbs up to Lee Gordon... for defining traits of a true hero.

Especially being this close to 9/11.
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"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
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AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo."