Jim French (radio host)

{{Short description|American radio presenter and producer (1928–2017)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jim French

| image = Jim French.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|9|23}}

| birth_place = Pasadena, California

| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|12|20|1928|9|28}}

| occupation = Radio presenter, voice actor

| years_active = 1959–2017

| death_place = Seattle, Washington

| spouse = Patricia Anne Soule (m. 1950–2017)

}}

James Rowley French (September 23, 1928 – December 20, 2017) was an American radio presenter, voice actor, writer and producer who wrote and produced over 803 radio programs and provided the voice of Father Grigori in the 2004 video game Half-Life 2, as well as several other roles in Valve titles such as William "Bill" Overbeck in the Left 4 Dead franchise and the Elder Titan in Dota 2.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sagaftra.org/tribute-jim-french|last=Albert|first=Larry|title=In Tribute to Jim French|website=Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists|publisher=SAG-AFTRA|date=February 5, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2020}}http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=Mystery&series=The%20Adventures%20Of%20Harry%20Nile {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}Mclennan, Douglas (October 6, 1997) 'Retired' KIRO host French to tape 100th radio drama. Seattle Post-Intelligencer; accessed June 21, 2017.

Life and career

French became morning DJ on KIRO (AM) in Seattle in 1959.Bundy, June (January 19, 1959). Vox Jox. Billboard He later began production of Imagination Theatre, which in 2003 moved to KIXIVirgin, Bill (January 9, 2003). 'Imagination Theatre' goes to new home at KIXI. Seattle Post-Intelligencer His syndicated programs are now broadcast on over 120 stations in the U.S. and Canada, and are also heard on the XM Satellite Radio system all over North America.{{Cite web|url=http://jimfrenchproductions.com//index.php?main_page=about_us|title=About Us : Imagination Theater, Jim French Productions, Radio Mysteries, Radio Dramas|last=others|first=The Zen Cart™ Team and|website=Imagination Theater Mystery Radio Audio Drama|language=en|access-date=2017-12-29}}

He made an appearance on NBC's Pandora's Clock (1996) in the role of an Army non-com. He provided the voice for the Scientist in Gunman Chronicles, Father Grigori in Half-Life 2, the Fisherman in Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, Bill in the games Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 and Payday: The Heist (as a cameo in the opening cutscene to one of the missions), and Elder Titan in Dota 2.

In late January 2017, it was formally announced via the Imagination Theatre Facebook page that, due to age and health issues, Jim French and his family would be closing down their production company, Jim French Productions, and discontinuing all broadcasts of Imagination Theatre at the end of March 2017. French died on December 20, 2017, at age 89. He was predeceased by his wife Pat, who had died earlier the same year.{{Cite web |url=http://kixi.com/remembering-jim-french/ |title=Remembering Jim French – AM 880 KIXI |access-date=2017-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222114105/http://kixi.com/remembering-jim-french/ |archive-date=2017-12-22 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news|url=http://comicbook.com/gaming/2017/12/27/voice-actor-left-4-dead-2-jim-french-passes-away/|title=Voice Actor Behind Left 4 Dead's Bill Character Has Passed Away|work=WWG|access-date=2017-12-29|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?pid=187703595|title=Jim French Obituary|website=Legacy: Seattle Times|date=January 2, 2018|access-date=April 7, 2020}} Imagination Theatre is now produced by Aural Vision, LLC.{{cite web |url=https://harrynile.com/the-rebirth-of-imagination-theater/ |website=Imagination Theatre |title=The Rebirth of Imagination Theater |last=Lowrie |first=John |date=December 17, 2019 |access-date= April 7, 2020}}

Filmography

=Video games=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2000 \| Gunman Chronicles \| The Scientist \|
2004 \| Half-Life 2 \| Father Grigori	{{cite web\|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jim-French/\|title=Behind The Voice Actors - Jim French\|last=\|first=\|date=\|website=Behind The Voice Actors\|access-date=April 20, 2020}}
2005 \| Half-Life 2: Lost Coast \| The Fisherman \|
2008 \| Left 4 Dead \| rowspan=3 \| William "Bill" Overbeck
2009 \| Left 4 Dead 2 \|
2011 \| Payday: The Heist \|
2013 \| Dota 2 \| Elder Titan \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2000

| Gunman Chronicles

| The Scientist

2004

| Half-Life 2

| Father Grigori

{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jim-French/|title=Behind The Voice Actors - Jim French|last=|first=|date=|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=April 20, 2020}}

2005

| Half-Life 2: Lost Coast

| The Fisherman

2008

| Left 4 Dead

| rowspan=3 | William "Bill" Overbeck

2009

| Left 4 Dead 2

2011

| Payday: The Heist

2013

| Dota 2