Ted Williams (voice-over artist)
Encyclopedia
Ted Williams is an American voice-over artist
from Columbus, Ohio
. Williams gained widespread media attention
when an interview – made during a period when he was homeless
– went viral
after being posted to YouTube
in early January 2011. Williams has since received numerous offers – including jobs – and has also encountered difficulties, both with the media and his own sobriety.
, was honorably discharged, and attended school for voice acting
. His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams later worked overnight shifts for WVKO (AM)
in Columbus when the station played soul music
. According to Williams, his life started falling apart in 1986 with a combination of drug and alcohol abuse plus a loss of interest in his career. During this period Williams was arrested at least seven times on charges including theft, drug possession, escape, and robbery. He was also issued misdemeanor
citations for drug abuse, criminal trespassing, and pedestrian solicitation
. These resulted in two prison sentences, with Williams serving three months in 1990 for theft and nearly two months in 2004 for theft, forgery and obstructing official business. He is a father to nine children: seven girls and two boys.
videographer for the Columbus Dispatch, recorded an interview with Williams, and posted the interview on the newspaper's website on January 3, 2011. Recorded during a period when Williams was homeless, Chenoweth located Williams standing next to traffic – holding a cardboard sign with a hand-written advertisement of his voice and a request for donations. In the recording, Chenoweth asked Williams to demonstrate his voice. The video showed a disheveled Williams gratefully receiving a donation and improvising a startlingly accomplished radio station promo
. The video concluded with a short interview where Williams elaborated on his education and the problems that led to his homelessness.
The video was reposted to YouTube
where it received significant attention.
At the same time, Williams' story garnered attention on social news websites with users pledging money, clothes, and job offers. On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI
and was interviewed by The Early Show
on CBS
.
He was interviewed on Today, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over, revealing that he was to have an interview to do voice overs for Kraft Foods
. On January 10, a fundraiser website, TedWilliamsYourVoice, was set up to support the National Coalition for the Homeless and Williams.
Subsequently, Williams received several job offers. On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA basketball team offered him a job and a home. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena
. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!" On January 7, 2011, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC
to provide voiceovers for the network. Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods
' new TV campaign, which launched on ESPN
during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on January 9.
Williams said he had remained sober since mid-2008, but started drinking again after the media attention. On January 12, 2011, after a lengthy one-on-one talk with TV psychologist Phil McGraw
, Williams admitted to drinking alcohol heavily again and agreed to go to a male-only drug rehab facility
in Texas arranged by Dr. Phil. He has also committed to attend alcohol rehabilitation courses. Williams checked himself out of the rehab facility after 12 days.
Later, in February 2011, Williams, reflecting on why he had left the rehab facility, said to reporters that "I love Dr. Phil. I don't want to bash him in any way. I walked out of treatment because it was a little scripted, I felt. There was no anonymity. I want him to know that his cares and his concerns will not be in vain. I am going to try and truly get back into the swing of things."
Also in February 2011, the reality show Second Chances at Life was announced to be in pre-production with Williams as host. A second season is also being planned and, if produced, is slated to introduce new individuals who also deserve a second chance at life.
On March 9, 2011, Williams was interviewed again on Today, where he thanked his voice over mentors, Randy Thomas and Joe Cipriano and reported he was doing well and living in a sober house
in Studio City, California.
In April 2011, Williams returned to Columbus as part of shooting a commercial for a local store and a reality show.
On May 6, 2011, it was announced that Williams would be entering a Texas rehabilitation facility for emotional reasons and not for narcotic reasons. Furthermore, Williams' book and reality show are on break until Williams returns. The following day, The News-Herald reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers had retracted their earlier job offer to Williams.
In November 2011, New England Cable News
announced that Williams had joined NECN as the official voice of the New England cable channel and would be working out of his at-home studio in Dublin, Ohio
.
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
from Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. Williams gained widespread media attention
15 minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame is short-lived, often ephemeral, media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." The phenomenon is often used in reference to...
when an interview – made during a period when he was homeless
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
– went viral
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
after being posted to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
in early January 2011. Williams has since received numerous offers – including jobs – and has also encountered difficulties, both with the media and his own sobriety.
Background
Williams was born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York Williams served three years in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, was honorably discharged, and attended school for voice acting
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
. His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams later worked overnight shifts for WVKO (AM)
WVKO (AM)
WVKO is an American AM radio station licensed to broadcast in Columbus, Ohio.WVKO changed from a progressive talk format to Catholic radio programming, provided by Columbus-based St. Gabriel Radio....
in Columbus when the station played soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. According to Williams, his life started falling apart in 1986 with a combination of drug and alcohol abuse plus a loss of interest in his career. During this period Williams was arrested at least seven times on charges including theft, drug possession, escape, and robbery. He was also issued misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
citations for drug abuse, criminal trespassing, and pedestrian solicitation
Solicitation
Literally, solicitation means: 'urgently asking'. It is the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal. In criminal law, it most commonly refers to either the act of offering goods or services, or the act of attempting to purchase such goods or services...
. These resulted in two prison sentences, with Williams serving three months in 1990 for theft and nearly two months in 2004 for theft, forgery and obstructing official business. He is a father to nine children: seven girls and two boys.
Recognition and response
Doral Chenoweth, a Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
videographer for the Columbus Dispatch, recorded an interview with Williams, and posted the interview on the newspaper's website on January 3, 2011. Recorded during a period when Williams was homeless, Chenoweth located Williams standing next to traffic – holding a cardboard sign with a hand-written advertisement of his voice and a request for donations. In the recording, Chenoweth asked Williams to demonstrate his voice. The video showed a disheveled Williams gratefully receiving a donation and improvising a startlingly accomplished radio station promo
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
. The video concluded with a short interview where Williams elaborated on his education and the problems that led to his homelessness.
The video was reposted to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
where it received significant attention.
At the same time, Williams' story garnered attention on social news websites with users pledging money, clothes, and job offers. On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI
WNCI
WNCI is a radio station in Columbus, Ohio. Its official print brand identifier is WNCI 97.9 in a purple oval, while the station is known on-air as 97.9 WNCI...
and was interviewed by The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
.
He was interviewed on Today, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over, revealing that he was to have an interview to do voice overs for Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
. On January 10, a fundraiser website, TedWilliamsYourVoice, was set up to support the National Coalition for the Homeless and Williams.
Subsequently, Williams received several job offers. On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
NBA basketball team offered him a job and a home. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!" On January 7, 2011, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
to provide voiceovers for the network. Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods
Kraft Foods Inc. is an American confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate. It markets many brands in more than 170 countries. 12 of its brands annually earn more than $1 billion worldwide: Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Trident, Tang...
' new TV campaign, which launched on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on January 9.
Williams said he had remained sober since mid-2008, but started drinking again after the media attention. On January 12, 2011, after a lengthy one-on-one talk with TV psychologist Phil McGraw
Phil McGraw
Phillip Calvin McGraw best known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, former psychologist, and the host of the television show Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002...
, Williams admitted to drinking alcohol heavily again and agreed to go to a male-only drug rehab facility
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
in Texas arranged by Dr. Phil. He has also committed to attend alcohol rehabilitation courses. Williams checked himself out of the rehab facility after 12 days.
Later, in February 2011, Williams, reflecting on why he had left the rehab facility, said to reporters that "I love Dr. Phil. I don't want to bash him in any way. I walked out of treatment because it was a little scripted, I felt. There was no anonymity. I want him to know that his cares and his concerns will not be in vain. I am going to try and truly get back into the swing of things."
Also in February 2011, the reality show Second Chances at Life was announced to be in pre-production with Williams as host. A second season is also being planned and, if produced, is slated to introduce new individuals who also deserve a second chance at life.
On March 9, 2011, Williams was interviewed again on Today, where he thanked his voice over mentors, Randy Thomas and Joe Cipriano and reported he was doing well and living in a sober house
Halfway house
The purpose of a halfway house, also called a recovery house or sober house, is generally to allow people to begin the process of reintegration with society, while still providing monitoring and support; this is generally believed to reduce the risk of recidivism or relapse when compared to a...
in Studio City, California.
In April 2011, Williams returned to Columbus as part of shooting a commercial for a local store and a reality show.
On May 6, 2011, it was announced that Williams would be entering a Texas rehabilitation facility for emotional reasons and not for narcotic reasons. Furthermore, Williams' book and reality show are on break until Williams returns. The following day, The News-Herald reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers had retracted their earlier job offer to Williams.
In November 2011, New England Cable News
New England Cable News
New England Cable News is a regional 24-hour cable news television network owned and operated by NBCUniversal serving the New England region of the United States. It is very similar to CNN in structure and style, but focuses more on regional news. The channel is also similar to Northwest Cable...
announced that Williams had joined NECN as the official voice of the New England cable channel and would be working out of his at-home studio in Dublin, Ohio
Dublin, Ohio
Dublin is a city in Franklin, Delaware, and Union counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 41,751 at the 2010 census. Dublin is a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Approximately 57,000 people live within the Dublin school district....
.
Voice-over work
- Today, January 6, 2011 (Lead in)
- Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
, January 6, 2011 - The Rachel Maddow ShowThe Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program that airs weeknights on MSNBC at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name...
, January 6, 2011 - MSNBC's "Lean Forward" campaign, January 6, 2011
- Kraft's "You Know You Love It: Dad's in the Doghouse" Macaroni and Cheese campaign, January 7, 2011
- Dr. PhilDr. Phil (TV series)Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
, January 11–12, 2011 - The SoupThe SoupThe Soup is an E! Entertainment Television weekly series; it is a revamped version of Talk Soup that focuses on recaps of various pop culture and television show moments of the week...
, January 14, 2011 - The DishThe Dish (TV series)The Dish is a satirical television series aired on the Style Network in the United States. The show , hosted by Danielle Fishel, skewers the latest in pop culture in similar fashion to sister network E! Entertainment Television's series The Soup...
, January 16, 2011
Interviews
- The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, January 5, 2011 - Today, January 6, 2011
- Late Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
, January 6, 2011 - The Last Word with Lawrence O'DonnellThe Last Word with Lawrence O'DonnellThe Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program on MSNBC. The program airs live at 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time Monday-Thursday, and is hosted by Lawrence O'Donnell...
, January 6, 2011 - The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, January 7, 2011 - Dr. PhilDr. Phil (TV series)Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
, January 11–13, 20–21, 2011 - The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, February 9, 2011 - Today, March 9, 2011
- Dr. Phil, September 15, 2011