Jim French
Born(1928-09-23)September 23, 1928
Pasadena, California
DiedDecember 20, 2017(2017-12-20) (aged 89)
Seattle, Washington
Occupation(s)Radio presenter, voice actor
Years active1959–2017
SpousePatricia Anne Soule (m. 1950–2017)

James Rowley French (September 23, 1928 – December 20, 2017) was an American radio presenter, voice actor, writer and producer who wrote and produced over 803 radio programs and provided the voice of Father Grigori in the 2004 video game Half-Life 2, as well as several other roles in Valve titles such as William "Bill" Overbeck in Left 4 Dead and the Elder Titan in Dota 2.[1][2][3][4]

Life and career

French became morning DJ on KIRO (AM) in Seattle in 1959.[5] He later began production of Imagination Theatre, which in 2003 moved to KIXI[6] His syndicated programs are now broadcast on over 120 stations in the U.S. and Canada, and are also heard on the XM Satellite Radio system all over North America.[7]

He made an appearance on NBC's Pandora's Clock (1996) in the role of an Army non-com. He provided the voice for the Scientist in Gunman Chronicles, Father Grigori in Half-Life 2, the Fisherman in Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, Bill in the games Left 4 Dead and Payday: The Heist (as a cameo in the opening cutscene to one of the missions), and Elder Titan in Dota 2.

In late January 2017, it was formally announced via the Imagination Theatre Facebook page that, due to age and health issues, Jim French and his family would be closing down their production company, Jim French Productions, and discontinuing all broadcasts of Imagination Theatre at the end of March 2017. French died on December 20, 2017, at age 89. He was predeceased by his wife Pat, who had died earlier the same year.[8][9][1] Imagination Theatre is now produced by Aural Vision, LLC.[10]

Filmography

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Gunman Chronicles The Scientist
2004 Half-Life 2 Father Grigori[11]
2005 Half-Life 2: Lost Coast The Fisherman
2008 Left 4 Dead William "Bill" Overbeck[11]
2009 Left 4 Dead 2
2011 Payday: The Heist
2013 Dota 2 Elder Titan

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Jim French Obituary". Legacy: Seattle Times. January 2, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  2. ↑ Albert, Larry (February 5, 2018). "In Tribute to Jim French". Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG-AFTRA. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  3. ↑ http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Mystery&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Harry%20Nile
  4. ↑ Mclennan, Douglas (October 6, 1997) 'Retired' KIRO host French to tape 100th radio drama. Seattle Post-Intelligencer; accessed June 21, 2017.
  5. ↑ Bundy, June (January 19, 1959). Vox Jox. Billboard
  6. ↑ Virgin, Bill (January 9, 2003). 'Imagination Theatre' goes to new home at KIXI. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  7. ↑ others, The Zen Cart™ Team and. "About Us : Imagination Theater, Jim French Productions, Radio Mysteries, Radio Dramas". Imagination Theater Mystery Radio Audio Drama. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  8. ↑ "Remembering Jim French – AM 880 KIXI". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  9. ↑ "Voice Actor Behind Left 4 Dead's Bill Character Has Passed Away". WWG. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
  10. ↑ Lowrie, John (December 17, 2019). "The Rebirth of Imagination Theater". Imagination Theatre. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Behind The Voice Actors - Jim French". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
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