A One-Man Trailer Machine | SPIKE

One of the great voices of American movie trailers, Don LaFontaine, died on Monday at age 68 from a collapsed lung. His voice was featured in trailers for films such as The Terminator, Godfather II, Batman Returns, Cast Away, Fatal Attraction and Dr. Strangelove. Hit the jump to see a featurette with LaFontaine and four of his fellow voice-over colleagues, as well as a few of our favorite trailers from his long resume.

His deep voice became the standard for trailer voice-overs, and even had a bit part in The Simpsons Movie. Known for his famous phrase, "In a world," LaFontaine's voice was at once instantly recognizable and universally manly. In a world where movie trailers keep us all entertained throughout an otherwise hum-drum day, we salute you, Don.

5 Men in a Limo

In a world where a select group of men use their unique voiceover talents comes the short film that brought a nation to its feet.

The Godfather Pt. 2 - Trailer

The sequel to THE GODFATHER tells the story of both a young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro), newly arrived in America, and his son Michael (Al Pacino), forty years later, running the family empire. On the streets of Hell's Kitchen in 1917 New York City, Vito is initiated into the ways of the local cosa nostra by his friend Clemenza (Bruno Kirby). After killing the local mafioso in a towel-wrapped gun, Vito becomes the new man to be respected and feared. Meanwhile, a dour Michael Corleone negotiates with business partner Hyman Roth (legendary method actor Lee Strasberg in his first film role) in Cuba and testifies in front of a Washington Senate committee. Robert Duvall (Tom Hagen), Diane Keaton (Kay Corleone), Talia Shire (Connie Corleone), and John Cazale (Fredo Corleone), reprising their original roles, are outstanding as the people forced to watch the new godfather's moral destruction. Robert De Niro, speaking in Italian, captures the mannerisms of Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone from the first film brilliantly. One of the only major sequels ever made that might just surpass the original.

Comedian - Trailer

Hilarious goof on that deep-voiced trailer voiceover guy ("In a world where... In the tradition of... From the man who brought you...") promoting Seinfeld's upcoming flick. Welcome back to Bizarro World!

Batman Returns

Batman Returns

Fatal Attraction - Trailer

A happily married New York City lawyer (Michael Douglas) engages in a one-night stand (Glenn Close) while his wife and child are visiting his in-laws. When he tries to end the affair, she refuses, and initial harassment escalates until she has terrorized the entire family. Soon the lawyer realizes it's either him or her... and he sets the stage for a final showdown.