The Columbus Dispatch recently posted this remarkable video interview with Ted Williams, a homeless man with a remarkable voice for radio.
After demonstrating his talent, Williams provides some backstory:
When I was 14 I kind of listened to one of our area radio announcers, and I went as a field trip to go meet the guy, and he looked nothing like what he sounded like. So I asked him about that, and he said to me, “listen, radio is defined — theater of mind.” And so when he said “theater of mind,” I just said, well, hey. I can’t be an actor, I can’t be an on-air personality, but the voice just became something of a development over the years and I went to school for it.
And then alcohol and drugs and a few other things became a part of my life. I’ve got two years clean, and I’m trying hard to get it back. And hopefully somebody from one of these television or radio stations will say, ‘hey, I need a voice-over,’ or ‘ I need something.’
As of posting, the top-rated YouTube comment comes from a man who says he owns a Hollywood talent agency that specializes in voiceovers, and he says he knows “some people in Columbus who work in the field I can probably hook him up with.” Hopefully Williams’ talent will be able to find a home.
Update, 1/5: Williams has been offered a job by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
(Columbus Dispatch via BuzzFeed)
Published: Jan 4, 2011 02:27 pm