Jim French (radio host)
Jim French | |
|---|---|
 French in 1959 | |
| Born | September 23, 1928 |
| Died | December 20, 2017 (aged 89) |
| Education | Pasadena City College |
| Occupation(s) | Radio presenter, voice actor |
| Years active | 1944–2017 |
| Spouse |
Patricia Anne Soule
(m. 1950; died 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
James Rowley French (September 23, 1928 – December 20, 2017)[1][2] was an American radio host, voice actor, writer and producer. French founded Imagination Theatre in 1996 and served as its producer until 2017. He was the morning DJ on the Seattle radio station KIRO from 1959 to 1971, and again from 1980 to 1994.[3][4][5]
As a voice actor, French was known for his work in video games by Valve, including Half-Life 2 (2004), Left 4 Dead (2008), and Dota 2 (2013).[6]
Early life
James Rowley French was born on September 23, 1928, in Pasadena, California, to Mabelle (née Rowley) and James Forrest French.[2] French got his first job in radio as a teenager, on the Pasadena AM station KXLA.[5] French enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in allied-occupied Japan, where he worked for the Armed Forces Radio.[1][5] He attended the Pasadena City College following his discharge.[1][5]
Career
Radio
Following stints working in radio in Southern California and Honolulu,[5] French became morning DJ on the Seattle radio station KIRO in 1959.[7] He left KIRO in 1971 and moved to KVI, where he produced and wrote radio dramas.[3] French was dismissed from his position at KVI in 1978, and he returned to KIRO in as a host 1980.[3][5] He stepped down from his position as a host in 1994.
In 1996, French began production of the radio drama program Imagination Theatre, which in 2003 moved to KIXI.[8] 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.[9]
In January 2017, it was announced that, due to age and health issues, 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.[10] Imagination Theatre was relaunched in 2019, following a successful crowdfunding campaign headed by actors and producers John Patrick Lowrie and Larry Albert, and is now produced by Aural Vision, LLC.[11][10]
Voice acting
As an actor, French appeared on the 1996 NBC miniseries Pandora's Clock as a non-commissioned officer. He was best known for voice acting work in videos games by Valve Corporation, most notably Father Grigori in Half-Life 2, Bill in Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 and the Elder Titan in Dota 2.[6] He additionally voiced the Scientist in Gunman Chronicles and the Fisherman in the tech demo Half-Life 2: Lost Coast.[12]
Personal life and death
French met Patricia Anne "Pat" Soule while attending Pasadena City College, and the two married in June 1950.[5] They were married for 66 years, until her death in February 2017, and had two children.[13] Pat worked as an acting teacher at Bellevue College and later worked with her husband on Imagination Theatre.[14]
French died in Seattle on December 20, 2017, at age 89.[15][16][1]
Filmography
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Gunman Chronicles | The Scientist | |
| 2004 | Half-Life 2 | Father Grigori | [17] |
| 2005 | Half-Life 2: Lost Coast | The Fisherman | |
| 2008 | Left 4 Dead | William "Bill" Overbeck | [17] |
| 2009 | Left 4 Dead 2 | ||
| 2011 | Payday: The Heist | ||
| 2013 | Dota 2 | Elder Titan |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Jim French Obituary". Legacy: Seattle Times. January 2, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "Birth Notices". Pasadena Star-News. September 26, 1928. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
FRENCH–To Mr. and Mrs. James Forrest French, 608 Adelyn drive, San Gabriel, on September 23, 1928, at the Pasadena Hospital, a son, James Rowley French.
- ^ a b c Taylor, Chuck (June 1, 1994). "Jim French To Sign Off As Kiro-Am Radio Host". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Mclennan, Douglas (October 6, 1997) 'Retired' KIRO host French to tape 100th radio drama. Seattle Post-Intelligencer; accessed June 21, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Albert, Larry (February 5, 2018). "In Tribute to Jim French". Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG-AFTRA. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Good, Owen S. (December 30, 2017). "Jim French, Left 4 Dead's Bill, dies at 89". Polygon. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Bundy, June (January 19, 1959). Vox Jox. Billboard
- ^ Virgin, Bill (January 9, 2003). 'Imagination Theatre' goes to new home at KIXI. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- ^ others, The Zen Cart™ Team and. "About Us : Imagination Theater, Jim French Productions, Radio Mysteries, Radio Dramas". Imagination Theater Mystery Radio Audio Drama. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ a b Lowrie, John (December 17, 2019). "The Rebirth of Imagination Theater". Imagination Theatre. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ Albert, Larry, You Can Help Keep the Magic of Radio Theatre Alive, KIXI, archived from the original on 2019-10-05, retrieved 2019-10-05
- ^ Bailey, Dustin (December 29, 2017). "Jim French, actor behind Father Grigori and Left 4 Dead's Bill, has passed away". PCGamesN. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
- ^ "Patricia French Obituary". Legacy: Seattle Times. February 17, 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Grindeland, Sherry (January 8, 1998). "A Marriage Made In Mystery -- For Jim And Pat French, Radio Dramas - Like Life - Are Better As A Duet". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Remembering Jim French – AM 880 KIXI". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
- ^ "Voice Actor Behind Left 4 Dead's Bill Character Has Passed Away". WWG. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ a b "Behind The Voice Actors - Jim French". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 20, 2020.