“The Voice” has been silenced. Don LaFontaine died on Monday from “complications from pneumothorax, a collapsed lung that causes air to build in the pleural cavity” (youch!).

Don’s name is known by pretty much everyone in the media business – be they presenters, producers voice-over artists, whatever – he’s done 30+ years of voice-over work in the entertainment industry and has been the official voice of Paramount Pictures – one of the most recognisable voices in the business, along with literally thousands of trailers and ads – and he was best known, probably, for his trademark baritone intro “In a world…”

Still don’t know who he is? Watch this:

and then this (ABC News special report)…

Not long after the character he played was brutally killed off, while his (*ahem*… so-called) “religion” was belittled in a pivotal episode of “South Park“, Isaac Hayes, the voice of “Chef” and singer of the theme tune to Shaft, has died in Memphis at the age of 65.

I just noticed that this image appears on his official web site:

It’s a photo of Bernie Mac (who died on Saturday), Isaac himself (who died just about 8 hours ago) and Samuel L. Jackson (who is very much alive, as far as I know). It links to this page which reports that Hayes was due to play himself in an upcoming movie along with the other two.

This photo would be extra freaky, and the production itself clearly cursed beyond belief if Samuel L. Jackson were to die within the next day or so. Let’s hope, of course, that this doesn’t happen as surely there’s bound to be loads more motherf*cking deadly creatures for him to get off some motherf*cking modes of transport…

R.I.P. Isaac. Scientology and all that bollocks aside, you were still a soul legend.

… to run for President?

(yes, you can tell she’s reading from an autocue or idiot board, but she sounds like she understands it!)

… or to kick the bucket?

You decide!

These are amazing…

What were you scared of as a kid? What gave you nightmares? Jaws gave me nightmares when I saw it first on telly (I was about 6 or 7)… nightmares in which the massive shark would burst through my bedroom wall and try to get me. I was on the top bunk, so I was always just centimetres from his angry gaping maw, but it was bloody frightening…

So what was it for you?… Monsters under the bed? Something nasty sneaking up behind you? Dead people? Spiders? Wolves? Leitrim? It might be here!!! (well… not if it’s Leitrim…)

(Warning: Possibly not suitable for those of a ‘nervous disposition’).

This is my favourite: