R.I.P. Mark Elliott: Voice Behind Disney Trailers
You have heard his voice many, many times…
Sad news. Mark Elliott, the voice behind many a Disney promo and trailer, passed away Saturday, April 3. He was 81.
Elliott’s career with Disney began with a 1977 trailer for the studio’s re-release of 1950’s Cinderella. His association with Disney would continue into the early years of the 21st century, with credits ranging from trailers to his narration for the anthology series The Magical World of Disney.
Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Elliott worked in various radio markets before landing in Los Angeles in 1970, moving into the city’s voiceover landscape with the trailer for 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit and radio voiceovers for Star Wars. Other non-Disney credits include trailers for The Goodbye Girl (1977), Best Picture Oscar winner Chariots of Fire (1981), and, in 1983, All the Right Moves. Also, that year, Elliott voiced the series-finale promo for M*A*S*H.
Friends React
His good friend and colleague Joe Cipriano posted about Mr. Elliott on Facebook:
“[At the beginning of his career, Cipriano] sat there watching Mark Elliott do the primetime comedy promos,” he began. “With Mark, I learned how our shared radio background was the perfect experience for promos.
“Mark was a true gentleMAN – Getting to share all of our scenes in Lake Bell’s ‘In a World’ was the icing on the cake.
“I’m so sad about Mark’s passing,” he said.
According to Elliott’s rep Peter Varano, the actor died over the weekend.
“He was an incredibly talented voice-over actor. His career spanned decades and inspired many newcomers to the industry,” Varano said in a statement. “Though many fans only knew him as a voice, we were fortunate to know him as a person. His talent was only surpassed by his generosity and kindness.”
Announcing A Phenomenon
You can also hear Elliot’s dulcet tones in this radio spot for the original Star Wars in 1977.