Orson Welles Was George Lucas's First Pick to Voice Darth Vader

If they couldn't get Orson Welles, voice actor Paul Frees did his voice more often than the original (particularly for Disney). He also did impressions of the entire cast of The Maltese Falcon, and the cartoon voices of Boris Badanov, Ludwig Von Drake and Poppin' Fresh the Pillsbury Doughboy. So George could've changed his mind several times and keep the same actor...

Ken Nordine (then known as the deep-voiced guy on the psychedelic Levis commercials) could've done it. Or Gary Owens, Laugh-In announcer and the ORIGINAL voice of Space Ghost... or would that have been typecasting?

I wonder how many people thought James Earl Jones was trying to copy pop star Barry White's sexy low-talking style when it was probably the other way around. I'm sure there are people who thing the two of them AND Isaac "Shaft"/"Chef" Hayes were the same person...

But you know that annoying character on The Simpsons who says "E-e-e-y-e-e-e-e-s-s?" a lot. He's based on a radio actor named Frank Nelson who was still alive when Star Wars was made. Now that would have been fun if when Luke says "No-o-o-o-o-o!!!", Darth would say "E-e-e-y-e-e-e-e-s-s!"

I'm torn between Shatner and Patrick Stewart.

Lucas could have gone with Welles anyway. In the Spaniard dub, Darth Vader is played by Constantino Romero (one of the best radio voices ever, and well known), and I didn't realize it was him until a few months, nor did anyone I know.

This is him in the peak scene of The Empire Strikes Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNqS4IWrZRY

Gilbert Gottfried.

I would have to go with either Sam Kinison or the stuttering lawyer from "My Cousin Vinny"....
Actually Foghorn Leghorn would have been pretty

... Pretty good too.
(don't know why it cut off the end of that sentence)

I was always amazed that James Earl Jones was considered nothing more than a special effect and did not receive very much money for his contribution. Most of the other actors got really rich from the movie's success.

Thurl Ravenscroft would have been the ultimate choice.

midichlorians.....theeeyyyrre great!

Easy: Keith David.

Ooh! Excellent choice, Alan.

I also agree with Keith David, and he would've been
about the right age in 75-76.
Imma also gonna suggest the Holy Trinity:
Max Von Sydow, Jurgen Prochnow, & Udo Kier.
any one of those three would have lent
gravitas to the voice..........
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