Peter Thomas (announcer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Thomas
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Thomas in November 2010
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| Born | June 28, 1924 Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
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| Died | April 30, 2016 (aged 91) Naples, Florida, U.S.
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| Occupation | Narrator |
| Years active | 1938–2015 |
| Known for | Documentary and advertisement voice-over work |
| Spouse(s) |
Stella Barrineau
(m. 1946; |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | John Thomas Sibyl Addenbrooke |
Peter Addenbrooke Thomas (born June 28, 1924 – died April 30, 2016) was an American voice artist. He was famous for narrating many TV shows and commercials. His career lasted for over 70 years! You might know his voice from shows like Nova and Forensic Files.
Contents
Peter Thomas's Life Story
Peter Thomas was born in Pensacola, Florida. His parents, John and Sibyl, were from Britain. His dad was a minister and his mom was a teacher. They taught Peter how important reading, learning, and remembering things were. Peter said his dad taught him to imagine things clearly when he spoke. For example, if he talked about horses, he should picture horses in his mind.
Peter started his career very young, at just 14 years old! He became an announcer on a local radio show. Because he was so young, the station couldn't pay him money. Instead, the show's sponsor, Piper Aircraft, gave him flying lessons. Soon, Peter was hosting shows with famous Big Bands.
Serving in World War II
When World War II began, Peter left school and joined the United States Army in 1943. He was part of the First Infantry Division. He fought in five big campaigns, including the D-Day landings in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He earned many awards for his bravery. These included a Battle Star for each campaign, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.
Famous Voice Work
Peter Thomas received many awards for his voice work. One of his proudest moments was when a documentary he narrated won an Oscar. The film was called One Survivor Remembers. It told the true story of Gerda Weissman Klein, who was in a concentration camp during the war. Peter's army unit actually helped free the camp where she was held. Peter and Gerda met after the film was made.
He also narrated a miniseries for The Discovery Channel called How the West was Lost. In 2014, he narrated a Nova episode about D-Day. This was special because he had been part of the original D-Day landing on Omaha Beach.
Peter Thomas is perhaps best known as the narrator for the true-crime show Forensic Files. His unique voice made the show very popular around the world.
Family Life
Peter married his high school sweetheart, Stella Barrineau, in 1946. They had three children: Peter Jr., Douglas, and Elizabeth. The family lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, and later moved to Naples, Florida. Stella passed away in 2014.
Peter was very involved in helping veterans. He also strongly supported the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He even narrated the museum's first audio tour and documentary.
He often worked from his home studio. He could connect to recording studios across the U.S. and even in Europe using special technology. Before narrating full-time, he was a news anchor for CBS News in New York.
His Passing
Peter Thomas died on April 30, 2016, when he was 91 years old. The first episode of Forensic Files II, which aired in 2020, honored his memory.
Other Cool Projects
Peter Thomas's voice was everywhere! Here are some other notable things he did:
- He did voice-overs for hundreds of TV commercials for big companies like Coca-Cola, IBM, and Burger King.
- He narrated the official highlight film for the 1985 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
- You can hear his voice in the 1985 hit song "19" by Paul Hardcastle. The song was inspired by a documentary Peter narrated about the Vietnam War.
- He provided the voice for Philips' HeartStart series of automated external defibrillator (AED) units. These devices help emergency workers save lives by giving instructions.
- He narrated many films for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
- He narrated children's audiobooks, including "Amazing World of Dinosaurs."
- He narrated the CD version of the famous novel Tuck Everlasting.
- He narrated the orientation video for the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
- He was the announcer for the underwriting credits on the Nature and NOVA TV series on PBS for many years.
