Jim French (radio host)
Jim French | |
|---|---|
 French in 1959 | |
| Born | September 23, 1928 |
| Died | December 20, 2017 (aged 89) |
| Occupation(s) | Radio presenter, voice actor |
| Years active | 1959–2017 |
| Spouse | Patricia Anne Soule (m. 1950–2017) |
James Rowley French (September 23, 1928 – December 20, 2017)[1] was an American radio host, voice actor, writer and producer. French wrote and produced over 803 radio programs, including for Imagination Theatre. He was the morning DJ on the Seattle radio station KIRO from 1959 to 1971, and again from 1980 to 1994.[2][3][4][5][6]
As a voice actor, French was known for his work in video games by Valve, including Half-Life 2 (2004), Left 4 Dead (2008), and Dota 2 (2013).[7]
Life and career
[edit] | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2017) |
French became morning DJ on KIRO (AM) in Seattle in 1959.[8] He later began production of Imagination Theatre, which in 2003 moved to KIXI[9] 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.[10]
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, Left 4 Dead 2 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.[11][12][1] Imagination Theatre is now produced by Aural Vision, LLC.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Gunman Chronicles | The Scientist | |
| 2004 | Half-Life 2 | Father Grigori | [14] |
| 2005 | Half-Life 2: Lost Coast | The Fisherman | |
| 2008 | Left 4 Dead | William "Bill" Overbeck | [14] |
| 2009 | Left 4 Dead 2 | ||
| 2011 | Payday: The Heist | ||
| 2013 | Dota 2 | Elder Titan |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Jim French Obituary". Legacy: Seattle Times. January 2, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Taylor, Chuck (June 1, 1994). "Jim French To Sign Off As Kiro-Am Radio Host". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Mystery&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Harry%20Nile [bare URL]
- ^ Mclennan, Douglas (October 6, 1997) 'Retired' KIRO host French to tape 100th radio drama. Seattle Post-Intelligencer; accessed June 21, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Mystery&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Harry%20Nile [bare URL]
- ^ Good, Owen S. (December 30, 2017). "Jim French, Left 4 Dead's Bill, dies at 89". Polygon. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Bundy, June (January 19, 1959). Vox Jox. Billboard
- ^ Virgin, Bill (January 9, 2003). 'Imagination Theatre' goes to new home at KIXI. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Remembering Jim French – AM 880 KIXI". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
- ^ "Voice Actor Behind Left 4 Dead's Bill Character Has Passed Away". WWG. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ Lowrie, John (December 17, 2019). "The Rebirth of Imagination Theater". Imagination Theatre. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "Behind The Voice Actors - Jim French". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
External links
[edit]- 1928 births
- 2017 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 20th-century American male writers
- 21st-century American male writers
- American dramatists and playwrights
- American male dramatists and playwrights
- American male radio actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- Mass media people from Pasadena, California
- Writers of Sherlock Holmes pastiches