Don Pardo: Movies & Box Office

Don Pardo (Dominick George Pardo Jr.) was an iconic American voice actor and announcer whose career spanned more than seven decades, making him one of the most recognizable auditory presences in broadcast history. Born on February 22, 1918 in Westfield, Massachusetts to Polish immigrant parents who owned a bakery, he spent his formative years across New England before graduating from Emerson College in 1942. His professional journey began in 1938 at NBC affiliate WJAR in Providence, and by 1944 he had joined the NBC network as a full‑time in‑house announcer, a position he would hold for sixty years. Over the ensuing decades Pardo lent his resonant baritone to a staggering array of radio programs—including X Minus One and Dimension X—and became a trusted war reporter for NBC during World War II. Transitioning seamlessly to television, he became the voice of pioneering game shows such as The Price Is Right (1956‑1963), Jeopardy! (1964‑1975), Winner Take All, Jackpot!, Three on a Match, and Winning Streak, as well as iconic NBC specials like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His most enduring legacy, however, is his role as the announcer for Saturday Night Live, a position he first assumed on the show’s inaugural episode in 1975 and held—save for a brief hiatus in 1981‑82—until his death in 2014, spanning 38 seasons and countless cultural moments. Pardo’s signature introduction, Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night! followed by the cast and musical guest list, became a ritual for generations of viewers. Even after relocating to Tucson, Arizona, he continued to record his parts, initially from a home studio and later traveling weekly to New York, underscoring his dedication to the craft. A member of the Television Hall of Fame since 2010, Pardo received numerous accolades, including induction into the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame. He passed away peacefully in his Tucson home on August 18, 2014 at the age of 96, leaving behind his wife Catherine Lyons (deceased 1995) and five children—Donna, Karen, Paula, David, and Michael—who remember him as a consummate professional and beloved patriarch.