No, That Wasn't Gilbert Gottfried's Real Voice: How The Late Actor-Comedian Actually Sounded

Summary Gilbert Gottfried's unique voice was not his natural voice; it was a deliberate choice crafted for his performances.

His iconic high-pitched, grating tone with vocal fry became a signature element of his comedy and acting.

Revealed in a message to Howard Stern, Gottfried's real voice was calm, ordinary, and devoid of his shrill persona.

Gilbert Gottfried was a beloved comedian and actor renowned for his unique comedic style and distinctive voice, but that wasn't his natural voice. Born on February 28, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, Gottfried began his career in stand-up comedy at the age of 15, quickly making a name for himself with his abrasive humor and fearless delivery. Over the decades, he became a staple in the comedy world, known for his unapologetic and often controversial jokes. His career spanned various forms of media, from television and film to voice acting, where his unmistakable voice became his trademark.

Gottfried passed away on April 12, 2022, at the age of 67, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence comedians and entertainers today. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues who remembered him for his comedic genius and his kindness and generosity offstage. While many remember him for his iconic roles and memorable voice, few know that the shrill, exaggerated voice he used in his performances was not his natural speaking voice.

Related 10 Iconic Gilbert Gottfried Performances To Celebrate His Life & Career Best known for his iconic voice, black humor, and as Iago in Aladdin, Gilbert Gottfried will be remembered for his incomparable style and versatility.

Gilbert Gottfried Put On A Shrill Vocal Fry For His Comedy, Aladdin & Other Roles

The Voice Of Digit In Cyberchase & The Aflac Duck Also Had Gottfried's Shrill Voice

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Gilbert Gottfried's vocal persona was one of his most recognizable features. Characterized by a high-pitched, grating tone with a distinct vocal fry, it became a signature element of his comedy and acting. This exaggerated voice was a part of his stand-up routines and found its way into his most famous roles, including the parrot Iago in Disney's Aladdin, a movie Gottfried thought would be terrible but defined his career. The character's loud, abrasive voice matched Gottfried's comedic style perfectly, and the creators of Aladdin developed the character around him (via Theater Mania).

His comedy routines were also heavily reliant on his vocal style, with the shrill delivery enhancing the impact of his often outrageous and boundary-pushing jokes.

The Aladdin team even designed Iago's personality and mannerisms to reflect Gottfried's own, and Gottfried completely changed Aladdin. Beyond Aladdin, Gottfried used his distinctive voice in various other roles, such as Digit in the PBS Kids series Cyberchase and the Aflac Duck in numerous commercials. His comedy routines were also heavily reliant on his vocal style, with the shrill delivery enhancing the impact of his often outrageous and boundary-pushing jokes. This vocal choice was a deliberate part of his act, crafted to make his performances more memorable and to stand out in the crowded world of stand-up comedy.

Gottfried's ability to transform his voice into such an extreme version of itself was a testament to his skill as a performer. It allowed him to create a unique niche for himself in the entertainment industry, making his characters and comedy instantly recognizable. However, this vocal persona was just that—a persona. His real voice was quite different, as revealed in various interviews and recordings over the years.

Related 10 Harsh Realities Of Watching Disney's Aladdin Today, 32 Years Later With all of Aladdin’s problematic aspects and controversies, it's harder to watch the Disney movie three decades after it released in theaters.

Howard Stern Played A Clip Of What Gottfried Really Sounded Like

The Radio Host Played An Answering Machine Message That Gottfried Sent Him

In a 2009 episode of The Howard Stern Show, radio host Howard Stern played a surprising clip that revealed Gilbert Gottfried's real voice. The snippet featured a message Gottfried had left on Stern's answering machine (via YouTube). In this message, Gottfried could be heard asking Stern for details about an event he was invited to, speaking in a calm and unremarkable tone. "Just tell me what exactly is going on tomorrow. You know, who is going to be there and everything like that." The contrast between this ordinary-sounding voice and the exaggerated, grating voice Gottfried used in his performances was striking.

It sounded more like the voice of someone relaxed rather than the loud, abrasive tones for which Gottfried was known.

Introducing the clip, Stern noted, "This is Gilbert's real voice. Just as scary, but it's a whole different guy." Indeed, the voice in the message was quiet, casual, and completely devoid of the vocal fry and shrillness that characterized his comedic persona. It sounded more like the voice of someone relaxed rather than the loud, abrasive tones for which Gottfried was known. Gottfried himself had commented on his vocal persona in various interviews, acknowledging that it was a crafted element of his performance. He noted (via Miami New Times):

“I’ve been doing it for such a long time, that one day you wake up and you go, Oh, this is what your delivery is. It’s like going up to someone walking down the street and asking, 'How did you develop that walk?'”

This deliberate choice to use a distinctive voice played a crucial role in his career, making his performances more impactful and memorable. It was a defining feature that helped him carve out a unique space in the comedy world, allowing Gilbert Gottfried to leave a lasting legacy that continues to be celebrated even after his passing.

Sources: Miami New Times, YouTube, Theater Mania