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Changed residence to reflect new location, being Dublin Ohio
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|9|22}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|9|22}}
| birth_place = [[Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn]], [[New York]], [[United States]]
| birth_place = [[Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn]], [[New York]], [[United States]]
| residence = [[Columbus, Ohio]]<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/06/2565057/ted-williams-homeless-man-with.html "Ted Williams, homeless man with radio voice"], ''[[The Kansas City Star]]'' newspaper, January 2011.</ref>
| residence = [[Dublin, Ohio]]<ref>[http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2011/09/15/one-more-take.html "‘Golden voice’ Ted Williams trying to stay on a positive path"], ''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]'' newspaper, September 2011.</ref>
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| other_names =
| other_names =
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==Interviews==
==Interviews==
*''[[The Early Show]]'', January 5, 2011 <ref>The Early Show, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWG6zNf4xY0/ Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about the original video and his life being changed]", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.</ref>
*''[[The Early Show]]'', January 5, 2011 <ref>The Early Show, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWG6zNf4xY0/ Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about the original video and his life being changed]", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.</ref>
*''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref name=today>The Today Show, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcIFIASiI4&feature=related Ted Williams on Today Show (1/6/2011) FULL INTERVIEW – Golden voice homeless man]", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.</ref>
*''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref name=today>The Today Show, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAcIFIASiI4&feature=related Ted Williams on Today Show (1/6/2011) FULL INTERVIEW – Golden voice homeless man]", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.</ref
*''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref>Jimmy Fallon, "[http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/ted-williams-1611/1268556/ Ted Williams talking to Fallon about the original video and his voiceover for Kraft]", "latenightwithjimmyfallon.com", January 6, 2011. ([http://www.webcitation.org/5wEAYWIFb Archive] as of February 3, 2011).</ref>
*''[[Late Night with Jimmy Fallon]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref>Jimmy Fallon, "[http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/video/ted-williams-1611/1268556/ Ted Williams talking to Fallon about the original video and his voiceover for Kraft]", "latenightwithjimmyfallon.com", January 6, 2011. ([http://www.webcitation.org/5wEAYWIFb Archive] as of February 3, 2011).</ref>
*''[[The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref>The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Tqq-elmi0/ Ted Williams talking to Lawrence O' Donnell about the original video and being reunited with The Columbus Dispatch photographer]", "msnbc.com", January 6, 2011.</ref>
*''[[The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell]]'', January 6, 2011 <ref>The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell, "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4Tqq-elmi0/ Ted Williams talking to Lawrence O' Donnell about the original video and being reunited with The Columbus Dispatch photographer]", "msnbc.com", January 6, 2011.</ref>

Revision as of 00:05, 17 September 2011

Ted Williams
Born (1957-09-22) September 22, 1957 (age 66)
Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationVoice-over artist
Known forVoice-overs, viral videos

Ted Williams (born September 22, 1957) is an American voice-over artist from Columbus, Ohio.[2] Williams gained widespread media attention when an interview – made during a period when he was homeless – went viral after being posted to YouTube in early January 2011. Williams has since received numerous offers – including jobs – and has also encountered difficulties, both with the media and his own sobriety.

Background

Williams, born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York [3] Williams served three years in the United States Army, was honorably discharged, and attended school for voice acting.[4] His inspiration to become a radio announcer came from a field trip at age 14, when he found that a radio announcer who he had heard looked nothing like he had imagined. Williams later worked overnight shifts for WVKO (AM) in Columbus when the station played soul music.[5] According to Williams, his life started falling apart in 1996 with a combination of drug and alcohol abuse plus a loss of interest in his career. During this period Williams was arrested at least seven times on charges including theft, drug possession, escape, and robbery.[6][7] He was also issued misdemeanor citations for drug abuse, criminal trespassing, and pedestrian solicitation.[8] These resulted in two prison sentences with Williams serving three months in 1990 for theft and nearly two months in 2004 for theft, forgery and obstructing official business.[8] He is a father to nine children: seven girls and two boys.[9]

Recognition and response

Doral Chenoweth, a Columbus, Ohio videographer for the Columbus Dispatch, recorded an interview with Williams, and posted the interview on the newspaper's website on January 3, 2011.[10][11] Recorded during a period when Williams was homeless, Chenoweth located Williams standing next to traffic – holding a cardboard sign with a hand-written advertisement of his voice and a request for donations. In the recording, Chenoweth asked Williams to demonstrate his voice. The video showed a disheveled Williams gratefully receiving a donation and improvising a startlingly accomplished radio station promo. The video concluded with a short interview where Williams elaborated on his education and the problems that led to his homelessness.[12] The video was reposted to YouTube[13][14] where it received significant attention.[15] At the same time, Williams' story garnered attention on social news websites with users pledging money, clothes, and job offers.[16] On January 5, 2011, Williams appeared on the "Dave and Jimmy Show" on WNCI and was interviewed by The Early Show on CBS.[17] He was interviewed on Today, January 6, doing the lead-in voice over, revealing that he was to have an interview to do voice overs for Kraft Foods.[18] On January 10, a fundraiser website, TedWilliamsYourVoice, was set up to support the National Coalition for the Homeless and Williams.

Subsequently, Williams received several job offers. On January 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball team offered him a job and a home. The offer calls for Williams to do full-time voiceover work with the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena. Williams responded, "That’s the best deal ever!"[19] On January 7, 2011, Williams was officially hired by MSNBC to provide voiceovers for the network.[20] Williams was also hired to be the voice behind Kraft Foods' new TV campaign, which launched on ESPN during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on January 9.

Williams said he had remained sober since mid-2008, but started drinking again after the media attention. On January 12, 2011, after a lengthy one-on-one talk with TV psychologist Phil McGraw, Williams admitted to drinking alcohol heavily again and agreed to go to a male-only drug rehab facility in Texas arranged by Dr. Phil.[21] He has also committed to attend alcohol rehabilitation courses.[22] Williams checked himself out of the rehab facility after 12 days.[23]

Later, in February 2011, Williams, reflecting on why he had left the rehab facility, said to reporters that "I love Dr. Phil. I don't want to bash him in any way. I walked out of treatment because it was a little scripted, I felt. There was no anonymity. I want him to know that his cares and his concerns will not be in vain. I am going to try and truly get back into the swing of things." [24]

Also in February 2011, the reality show Second Chances at Life was announced to be in pre-production with Williams as host. A second season is also being planned and, if produced, is slated to introduce new individuals who also deserve a second chance at life. [25]

On March 9, 2011, Williams was interviewed again on Today, where he thanked his voice over mentors, Randy Thomas and Joe Cipriano and reported he was doing well and living in a sober house in Studio City, California.[26]

In April 2011, Williams returned to Columbus as part of shooting a commercial for a local store and a reality show.[27]

On May 6, 2011, it was announced that Williams would be entering a Texas rehabilitation facility for emotional reasons and not for narcotic reasons. Furthermore, Williams' book and reality show are on break until Williams returns.[28][29] The following day, The News-Herald reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers had retracted their earlier job offer to Williams.[30]

Voice-over work

Interviews

References

  1. ^ "‘Golden voice’ Ted Williams trying to stay on a positive path", The Columbus Dispatch newspaper, September 2011.
  2. ^ Jan 7, 2011 02:33AM. "Chicago-Sun Times". Suntimes.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Ted Williams' Mom on His Sudden Fame". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  4. ^ WNCI 97.9 Radio Interview
  5. ^ "Ohio Homeless Man Earns Second Chance With 'Golden Radio Voice'". Radio Television Digital News Association. 2011-01-05. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-05. Williams had previously worked overnight shifts at WVKO (1580 AM), a former Columbus soul music station which now offers Catholic programming, according to Mail Online.
  6. ^ Lloyd, Jason (January 7, 2011). "Cavs hire homeless man despite record". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Ted Williams' Arrest Photos". WBNS-TV. January 7, 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  8. ^ a b Joy, Kevin; Amy Saunders (January 5, 2011). "Media frenzy overwhelms Columbus' 'golden voice'". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference today was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Meena Hartenstein (January 4, 2011). "Homeless man Ted Williams becomes viral video star in quest to be a radio announcer". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03.
  11. ^ Canada (2011-01-05). "Homeless man with voice of gold has chance at redemption". Toronto: The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  12. ^ Video location: Hudson Street (exit 112) off-ramp of Interstate 71, Columbus Ohio: 40°00′54″N 82°59′42″W / 40.015063°N 82.994941°W / 40.015063; -82.994941
  13. ^ Rivas, Jorge (4 January 2011) "Ohio Man With Golden Voice Tells His Tale of Jobless Crisis" (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  14. ^ Vitale, Robert (8 January 2011) "How the 'golden voice' video went viral" (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  15. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTysXITBCmk. Removed since. [dead link]
  16. ^ "Homeless man w/golden radio voice in Columbus, OH [VIDEO". reddit.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  17. ^ Doane, Seth (5 January 2011). A Day with Golden Voiced Ted Williams, CBS News (Archive as of 3 February 2011).
  18. ^ a b Andre Mayer, "Ted Williams voices opening to Today Show", CBC.ca, January 6, 2011. (Archive as of February 3, 2011).
  19. ^ Garrett Downing (5 January 2011). "Cavs offer homeless man with golden voice a job and a house". NewsChannel5 WEWS. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  20. ^ TedWilliamsBlog (7 January 2011). "Ted Williams Hired !". Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  21. ^ "Golden Voice Ted Williams Heads to Rehab". CBS News. 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  22. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams Headed to Rehab". 12 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  23. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams departs drug rehab". CNN. 2011-01-25. Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  24. ^ Gicas, Peter, "Golden-Voiced Ted Williams: Fame Came Too Quickly", E! Online, February 18, 2011
  25. ^ "'Golden Voice' Ted Williams Scores REALITY SHOW", TMZ, 2/22/2011
  26. ^ a b Inbar, Michael, "‘Golden-voiced’ man on relapse: ‘It was just awful’: But now Ted Williams says ‘stronger spirituality’ helps him stay sober", Today show, NBC-TV, March 9, 2011
  27. ^ "'Golden Voice' Returns To Columbus To Film Commercial, Reality Show". WBNS-TV / 10TV News. April 13, 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  28. ^ 'Golden Voice' Ted Williams -- Headed Back to Rehab from TMZ.com May 05, 2011
  29. ^ Marianne Gravey (May 06, 2011). "Golden-Voiced Ted Williams Headed Back to Rehab". E!. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ Finnan, Bob, "Bob Finnan's NBA notes: Cavaliers could go international route early in draft", The News-Herald, May 7, 2011
  31. ^ Jimmy Fallon (January 6, 2011). "Ted Williams talking to Fallon about the original video and his voiceover for Kraft". latenightwithjimmyfallon.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  32. ^ Rachel Maddow, "Ted Williams recites 18th amendment of United States Constitution on the Rachel Maddow Show", "CBC.ca", January 6, 2011. (Archive as of February 3, 2011).
  33. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about the original video and his life being changed", "youtube.com", January 6, 2011.
  34. ^ The Last Word with Lawrence O' Donnell, "Ted Williams talking to Lawrence O' Donnell about the original video and being reunited with The Columbus Dispatch photographer", "msnbc.com", January 6, 2011.
  35. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to The Early Show about being reunited with his mom, his work with Kraft, and recent job offers", "youtube.com", January 7, 2011.
  36. ^ The Early Show, "Ted Williams talking to the Early Show on Life After Rehab", "youtube.com", February 9, 2011.
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