Jim French of Left 4 Dead Dies at 89
If you are a gamer who played first-person survival horror shooter Left 4 Dead, then you will know him as the person who has voiced the grumpy ol' survivor of "Green Flu" outbreak William "Bill" Overbeck or just simply Bill. He was one of the few remaining voice actors producing full-time radio theater for commercial stations. This promising voice actor from Seattle and a World War II veteran Jim French has passed away today for natural causes when he was 89 year old.
You might not know him as the producer of a radio drama program by the name of Imagination Theater that is being broadcast over 120 AM/FM radio stations over America and Canada from 1980. You can also hear his programs on XM Satellite Radio if you are in North America. He started his career as a morning DJ on KIRO (AM) back in 1959 before starting his own company. He has been credited for over 803 shows including his notable appearance on The Adventures of Harry Nile and The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series.
Jim French lend voice for games like Gunman Chronicles, Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Lost Coast. Jim also voiced the Elder Titan in Dota 2 and a cameo in one of the opening cut-scene of Payday: The Heist. However, it was his role of Vietnam veteran Bill in the Left 4 Dead game that gave him some true recognition to the mainstream audience and a new generation of fan-following. This Assault Rifle wielding, beret-wearing badass is one of the original four survivors from the initial pandemic of the game. Interesting fact is that all of the games above that he voiced for are from Valve Corporation.
Jim is from Seattle and was born in September 1928. He used to serve as a writer and presenter doing weekly shows for the Armed Forces Radio Service during the period of World War II. Following the war, he resumed his career in the broadcasting media while settling in his hometown. Fans of Jim French's work can still enjoy his work on Left 4 Dead game playing as Bill to relive his fond memories.
You might not know him as the producer of a radio drama program by the name of Imagination Theater that is being broadcast over 120 AM/FM radio stations over America and Canada from 1980. You can also hear his programs on XM Satellite Radio if you are in North America. He started his career as a morning DJ on KIRO (AM) back in 1959 before starting his own company. He has been credited for over 803 shows including his notable appearance on The Adventures of Harry Nile and The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series.
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| Jim French of Left 4 Dead Dies at 89 |
Jim French lend voice for games like Gunman Chronicles, Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Lost Coast. Jim also voiced the Elder Titan in Dota 2 and a cameo in one of the opening cut-scene of Payday: The Heist. However, it was his role of Vietnam veteran Bill in the Left 4 Dead game that gave him some true recognition to the mainstream audience and a new generation of fan-following. This Assault Rifle wielding, beret-wearing badass is one of the original four survivors from the initial pandemic of the game. Interesting fact is that all of the games above that he voiced for are from Valve Corporation.
Jim is from Seattle and was born in September 1928. He used to serve as a writer and presenter doing weekly shows for the Armed Forces Radio Service during the period of World War II. Following the war, he resumed his career in the broadcasting media while settling in his hometown. Fans of Jim French's work can still enjoy his work on Left 4 Dead game playing as Bill to relive his fond memories.
