The List: Identifying that Familiar Voice

Last updated: 5/17/11

According to TIME, "television commercials with celebrity voice-overs are most effective when people recognize the voice--but can't quite put a name to it." Well, if you've ever heard a familiar voice in a commercial and couldn't quite place it, or if just needed that final validation to convince your friends and family, then this post is for you my friend. The following list is a simple, but hopefully informative, go-to guide to identifying celebrity narrators in commercials. We'll periodically update this section, so drop us a line if you have suggestions. 

-- A --

Tim Allen: "Pure Michigan"
Will Arnett: GMC Trucks 

-- B --

Lauren Bacall: Fancy Feast (HT @RosettaStone1)
Kevin Bacon: Buick Regal
Alec Baldwin: Hulu.com; Lincoln; Subaru; Sony; MTV; AIG Auto Insurance;
Chevrolet; Northwest Airlines; Disney World; Iridium Phone Service
Antonio Banderas: Nasonex
Zach Braff: Pur Water; Cottonelle
Jeff Bridges: Hyundai; Duracell; Ameriquest
Ty Burrell: Bing (HT @k8iedid)

-- C --

Tom Cavanagh: L.L. Bean
Stockard Channing: AIG Investments
George Clooney: Budweiser; Arthur Andersen; AT&T; AquaFina
Sean Connery: Level 3 Communications
John Corbett: Applebees
Billy Crudup: MasterCard

-- D --

Matt Damon: FleetBoston
Patrick Dempsey: State Farm
Robert De Niro: Subaru Legacy
Matt Dillion: Pontiac; GM
Michael Douglas: NBC Nightly News
David Duchovny: Pedigree

-- E --

Aaron Eckhart: Ford Fusion
Sam Elliott: Dodge Ram; Coors; U.S. Beef
Hector Elizondo: Tyco International, Chevron Oil; Mitsubishi; TD Waterhouse
Justine Ezarik: Mozy

-- F--

Morgan Freeman: CBS Evening News; Visa
Nancy Giles: Bonivia

-- G --

Janeane Garofalo: Starbucks (95% certain)
Peri Gilpin: Hyundai; McDonald’s; Inner Science Hair Care; Wells Fargo
John Goodman: Dunkin' Donuts
Gilbert Gottfried: The Aflac Duck; ShoeDini (HT @voiceroy)
Kelsey Grammer: Original Geico Gecko; Honey Nut Cheerios; Hyundai; Lexus; International Coffees;
Nizoral AD; Helzberg Diamonds; Disney’s 50th Anniversary

-- H --

Gene Hackman: United Airlines; Oppenheimer Funds; Lowes; GTE 
Thomas Haden Church: DirecTV
Michael C. Hall: Dodge Charger
Jon Hamm: Mercedes-Benz; Comcast Xfinity (HT @k8iedid)
Salma Hayek: Pampers/UNICEF (HT @voiceroy)
Ed Helms: Hotels.com
Lance Henriksen: Verizon Droid (HT @voiceroy)
Holly Hunter: Milk  

-- J --

Allison Janney: Kaiser Permanente; American Institute of Architects
Kristen Johnston: Starbucks (95% certain)
James Earl Jones: CNN

-- K --

John Krasinski: Carnival Cruises; Blackberry 

-- L --

Christine Lahti: Oil of Olay
Queen Latifah: Pizza Hut
Denis Leary: Ford F-150

-- M --

Joe McHale: Bing
Demi Moore: Verizon Wireless

-- P --

Mandy Patinkin: Crestor; Frosted Mini-Wheats; 7-Up

-- Q --

Randy Quaid: Capital One; KFC

-- R --

James Remar: Lexus
Burt Reynolds: Denny's
Julia Roberts: AOL
Mike Rowe: ABC World News

-- S --

Liev Schreiber: Infiniti
Steve Schirripa: McDonald's Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
Campbell Scott: Haagen-Dazs
Amy Sedaris: Supercuts
Tom Selleck: Florida Orange Juice, AT&T "You Will"
Gary Sinise: Go Army
Christian Slater: Panasonic
Kevin Spacey: Honda
James Spader: Acura
Donald Sutherland: Volvo; CTV; Sunkist
Kiefer Sutherland: Bank of America
Wanda Sykes: Applebees  

-- T --

Richard Thomas: Mercedes Benz
Stanley Tucci: AT&T

-- V --

Courtney B. Vance: The NFL; US Army 

-- W -- 

Tom Wopat: G-Oil