LOS ANGELES - The omnipresent baritone and gravely bass undertones of Don LaFontaine's distinctive voice had the unique ability to seamlessly embellish big-screen kisses, slice through over-the-top explosions, perfectly pair with robust musical scores, glide alongside car chases and effortlessly co-star with any A-list talent in Hollywood.

"He was the originator of the modern voiceover for movie trailers," said voiceover artist Jim Tasker. "He is the standard for which all other voiceovers for movie trailers are measured. For the past 30 years, his voice has been the gauge for all of us in the industry."

LaFontaine, who died Monday at the age of 68 from complications in the treatment of an ongoing illness, was the world's most recognizable announcer, thanks to his deft diction and a popular 2006 commercial in which he melodramatically retells a customer's mundane account of dealing with her car insurance company - all while standing inside her kitchen.

"The truth is there's only about 15 to 20 guys in the country who can do this," said voiceover artist Tom Kane. "They'll do their best to fill his shoes. It's funny. You can hear it in their voices. To one degree or another, they're all doing their best Don LaFontaine impersonation."

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