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Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV
Simon Catling
The real voice of the late Gilbert Gottfried has been revealed through a resurfaced radio segment from 2017.
Now, there weren’t many more iconic signature voices on film and television than comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried’s, and many fans actually didn't know what he sounded like in real life.
The late comic – who was the voice behind the likes of Cyberchase’s Didge, Aladdin’s Iago and Aflac Duck – kept his ‘real’ voice largely to himself, at least until 2017 documentary Gilbert.
However, there was one time that people were able to hear him completely unedited and unexaggerated, after radio show host Howard Stern let live a clip of 'off-the-air Gilbert' leaving a voice mail for the show’s producer Gary Dell’Abate.
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In a clip that’s now resurfaced on Youtube, Gottfried sounds remarkably normal and a little tired as he leaves a message for Dell’Abate.
Have a listen below:
“Yeah, Gary, it’s Gilbert. I’ll probably be there tomorrow, but if you can call me up… and tell me exactly what’s going on tomorrow. And who’s going to be there,” he's heard saying.
“If worse comes to worst if I could just call in. Ok, I’ll just talk to you whenever.”
After playing the clip, Stern and his team joke that the voice was 'serial killer Gilbert', as Stern described him as 'Gilbert Manson.' Gottfried also added: “That’s Bruce Dern! He’s a very quiet man.”
Gottfried's family sadly confirmed that he'd passed away aged 67 on April 12 of this year.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness," they wrote on Twitter.
"In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor.”
Aside from his work on the likes of Aladdin and other cartoon films and shows, Gottfried was probably best known for his run on American TV staple Saturday Night Live, for which he appeared in a 12-episode run.
Thanks in no small part to his shrill voice, the comedian has also breathed life into animated characters on shows such as The Fairly OddParents and Ren and Stimpy.
Tributes poured in for the star, with Seinfeld star Jason Alexander writing that Gottfried 'made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily'.
"What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family," he added.