Radio and TV voiceover legend dies at 80

Gary Owens, (pictured with his famous hand cupped  around ear look) the man behind the smooth baritone best known for announcing the classic TV series ‘Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In’, died in Los Angeles at the age of 80.
 
Owens hosted thousands of radio programs over his seven-decade career. He appeared in more than a dozen movies and on scores of TV shows, including Lucille Ball and Bob Hope specials.
 
He recorded a comedy album and wrote two books, and also voiced hundreds of animated characters.
 
His best known personas include the big-chinned, pill-popping pilot and leader of the American Eagle Squadron, Roger Ramjet.
 
Throughout his lengthy career he did voiceover work for Batman, Spider-Man, Inspector Gadget, Sonic The Hedgehog, Super Mario, Ren And Stimpy, Garfield and Buzz Lightyear cartoons.
 
Owens received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980, and was the first radio star to be inducted into the Hollywood Hall of Fame.
 
He ultimately succumbed to complications from type 1 diabetes, a condition he suffered from since childhood.
 
Owens is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arleta, and their sons, Scott and Chris.