Dave Luukkonen

Voice Description

My voice varies from baritone to bass, and from smooth to gravelly. I specialize in characterization- in voice acting- as opposed to announcing. I have a warm deep sound for narration projects, but can also manage more light hearted styles, from comic or sardonic to warm and fuzzy. I can do a passable upper crust English or Northern (Lancashire, Yorkshire) accent.
I speak a passable, but not perfectly fluent French, and can read the language aloud with clarity and an accent that native speakers tell me is very good. However, because it is a second language- and one I learned as an adult- I will never speak it with native fluency or accent, and I do not consider myself competent enough to do a long voice project in French. However, I think I could handle simple and brief voice overs. Certainly, I'd be willing to audition.

Voice Genders and "Ages" I Can Perform

• Young Adult Male
• Middle Age Male
• Senior Male

Language(s) of Which I Am a Native Speaker:

• English - North American

I Offer my Services for these Recording Purposes

• Commercials
• Promos
• Audiobooks
• Documentaries
• Movie and game trailers
• Songs
• Others (on-camera, infomercials, live announcers, spokespersons)

Jobs I Am Willing to Take (Union-wise)

• Jobs for ACTRA (Canada) signatories

• Jobs for AFTRA (US) signatories

• Jobs for SAG (US) signatories

My Union Affiliations and Memberships

• ACTRA (Canada)

My Recording and Delivery Capabilities

• I will go to any designated studio in my area

Pre-, Post- and Production Services I Offer

None

My Home Base

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Accents, Impersonations, Characters and Dialects

Northern English, American south, French,

My Voice Experience

After a brief stint in professional theatre, I started doing voice work as an 19 year old radio announcer back in 1977. I'd hoped to be an actor, but roles were scarce for a young man who looked about 14 years old but sounded about 50! I worked as an announcer and voice over artist full time for about 20 years before going back to school to become a teacher. I now have a B.Ed, and will defend my Master's thesis in early 2008. My background has made me, I think, a very effective English teacher; my students love to hear me read Hamlet in both my own voice, and sadly, more often requested-as Yoda. (To be or not too be, YESSS the question that is. Nobler is it to... well, you get the picture)
I continue to work as a voice artist, and do the occasional stint as a stage actor in local amateur productions.
I have done hundreds of local, regional and national commercials for clients in Canada ranging from Saskatchewan crop insurance (current) and Sony (Winter Olympics 1988) to Health Canada (2006). I have also been a 'voice' for a couple of telephone companies (Alberta Government Telephones (early to mid 90s) and Sasktel Max (more recently), and for Great Western Brewing. Oher clients have ranged from KFC to Safeway. I'd love to try voice character roles for cartoons or any other entertainment.
Producers have told me they like working with me because I don't sound like a radio announcer, I don't require endless takes, and I do take direction and I have a sense of humour.

My Training

I started working with local theatre companies while still a teenager, and worked briefly in professional theatre. Most of my training as a voice artist came through my work in radio, and through the 'school of hard knocks' as I competed for voice work with seasoned professionals across Canada.
When I returned to University, I studied television production as part of my B.Ed.
I have also worked as an instructor at a Broadcasting school, and I do seminars in dramatic reading for students and other interested people within my current school division.

My Studio Equipment

Unknown - Click here to ask Dave Luukkonen

Additional Skills

I have also done some work as a free lance commercial writer with a now defunct company called Studio West. We wrote, produced and directed radio commercials for rural cooperatives and small companies across Saskatchewan in the late 1980s. In addition, I occasionally am able to help a writer 'massage' a script for better effect as we produce it.
As an English teacher, I also am privileged to introduce high school students to drama and I enjoy directing them in school productions every year.

Payment Methods Accepted

• Personal checks, cashier's checks, or money orders in my local currency

Contact Information

To contact Dave Luukkonen by email or phone, please click here.