The Voice Behind Home Depot's Commercials: Josh Lucas Has Narrated the Iconic Ads Since 2023 - 33rd Square (2024)

If you‘ve ever wondered whose voice narrates those familiar Home Depot commercials, I‘ve got the answer for you – it‘s actor Josh Lucas! He has been the warm, trustworthy voice behind Home Depot‘s TV and radio ads since 2023.

In this article, I‘ll tell you all about Lucas‘ journey to becoming the voice of Home Depot. I‘ll also share some fun facts about the many other great voiceover actors who have voiced these iconic orange-apron ads over the past 30+ years.

Let‘s start from the beginning and walk through the evolution of Home Depot‘s brand voice over three decades of advertising!

A Quick Look at Home Depot‘s Advertising Over the Years

Before we get to the actors themselves, let me give you a quick overview of how Home Depot has used TV and radio advertising since the late 1970s:

• 1970s – Home Depot airs their very first TV commercials in local markets as they expanded outside of Atlanta, where they were founded in 1978.
• 1980s – Home Depot launches their first national marketing campaigns as the company experiences rapid growth. Their ads tout the chain‘s wide product selection and low prices.
• 1990s – This decade saw Home Depot‘s advertising focus shift to emphasizing customer service and housing/home improvement expertise.
• 2000s – TV ads play up Home Depot as a convenient one-stop shop for all your home improvement needs.
• 2010s/2020s – Recent ads have centered on Home Depot‘s range of services, omnichannel shopping options, and emotional resonance around the joys of DIY and home projects.

Now let‘s look at the legendary vocal talents who have voiced these iconic ads and helped build the Home Depot brand over the past 30+ years!

Don LaFontaine – The Original “Voice of God”

While he passed away in 2008, Don LaFontaine played a key role in putting his instantly recognizable baritone to work in some of Home Depot‘s earliest radio spots back in the 1980s.

Dubbed “Thunder Throat” and “The Voice of God,” LaFontaine voiced literally hundreds of thousands of movie trailers and ads with his dramatic, authoritative vocals. It‘s no surprise Home Depot tapped him to help introduce their brand to the nation in those important early years.

Fun fact: LaFontaine once did over 350 commercial voiceovers in one day alone! His voice was everywhere in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Beau Weaver – The Iconic Announcer

Another radio icon, announcer Beau Weaver, also contributed his golden voice to Home Depot‘s early ads in the 1980s.

With his classic, polished, announcer-style delivery, Weaver voiced major national ad campaigns for brands like Ford, Budweiser, and McDonald‘s. Home Depot made the right choice in selecting Weaver to narrate their initial radio spots and help bring their stores to markets coast to coast.

Fun fact: Weaver has voiced over 10,000 commercials total! Talk about an outstanding career.

Brian Cummings – The Friendly ‘90s Voice

In the early 1990s, actor and voiceover artist Brian Cummings took over as the key voice delivering Home Depot‘s message to the airwaves.

With his relatable, upbeat tone, Cummings was the perfect choice to narrate Home Depot‘s first major push into national branding in the ‘90s. His voice has just the right balance of friendliness and authority.

Fun fact: Cummings voiced well over 100 Home Depot commercials during his tenure. He remained one of their most frequent and familiar voiceover talents throughout the decade.

Home Depot Commercial Voiceover History

Ed Harris – The Film Star Voice

In the 2000s, Home Depot made the smart move of hiring renowned actor Ed Harris as their next go-to voiceover guy. Harris lent his trademark gruff, gravelly voice to narrate Home Depot‘s ads for over a decade.

Bringing in a well-known movie star like Harris was a clever strategy to grab consumers‘ attention, given Harris‘ fame from films like Apollo 13, The Truman Show, The Rock, and many more. His voice is truly one-of-a-kind.

Fun fact: Harris has been nominated for 4 Oscars for his acclaimed acting performances! Not too shabby.

Josh Lucas – The Current Voiceover Star

Finally, this brings us to Josh Lucas – the talented actor who has voiced Home Depot‘s national commercials since 2023.

Lucas has an incredibly warm, engaging voice that comes across as very genuine and trustworthy. He‘s able to blend authority with a down-to-earth, guy-next-door vibe in a way that feels like you‘re getting helpful tips from a friendly neighbor.

After Ed Harris‘ decade-plus stint, Lucas had some big shoes to fill. But he has more than risen to the occasion, already voicing Home Depot ads for over 9 years and counting. That makes him one of their longest-running voiceover artists.

Fun fact: In addition to Home Depot, Lucas‘ voice can also be heard in commercials for brands like CenturyLink, PetSmart, and Applebee‘s.

By the Numbers: Home Depot‘s Ad Spending

To give you a sense of how much Home Depot has invested in advertising over the years, check out these eye-opening stats:

• 2021 ad spending: $822 million
• 2020 ad spending: $675 million
• 2010 ad spending: $567 million
• 2000 ad spending: $334 million
• 1995 ad spending (IPO year): $76 million

As you can see, Home Depot spends big bucks on their marketing! Those big ad budgets ensure their commercials and voiceover talents like Josh Lucas reach consumers far and wide.

How Lucas Records Home Depot Commercials

When it‘s time to record a new batch of Home Depot radio or TV ads, Josh Lucas heads to professional recording studios like The Sound Kitchen in Dallas or booths in L.A.

These studios offer super high-end microphones and audio mixing equipment so nothing is left to chance. They also provide a soundproof environment with no background noise to ruin takes.

However, Lucas has shared that he can also record Home Depot ad voiceovers from a home studio when needed. As a seasoned voice actor, he has top-notch audio gear that allows him to lay down commercial narration tracks from the comfort of his own house.

The key is having studio-quality gear and a totally noise-free room to mimic what he‘d have access to in a big studio. This means he can nail that friendly Home Depot sound from anywhere!

Quick Tips for Aspiring Home Depot Voiceover Artists

Think you might have what it takes to become the next great Home Depot commercial voice? Here are my tips:

• Invest in pro-level recording equipment. You‘ll need outstanding microphones and acoustic treatment so your test recordings stand out.
• Take acting and voice lessons. Work on your vocal control, delivery, and ability to get into character. Nail that Home Depot sound.
• Create a portfolio of sample commercial voiceovers. Show off your versatility by recording fake ads for brands like paint, tools, lumber yards, etc.
• Hire an agent. They can advocate for you and submit your demo reel for big voiceover jobs like Home Depot‘s national campaigns.
• Practice, practice, practice! The more time you spend honing your recording and acting skills, the better chance you‘ll have of providing the friendly vocal flair Home Depot loves.

Closing Thoughts

Well, there you have it – Josh Lucas is the instantly recognizable voice behind Home Depot in 2024, carrying on a proud tradition of voiceover excellence spanning back to legends like Don LaFontaine in the 1980s.

It‘s been fascinating to see how Home Depot‘s choice of voiceover artists has evolved in tune with their brand image over the decades. While the voices have changed, Home Depot‘s commitment to top-tier vocal talent remains stronger than ever.

So next time you hear a Home Depot ad, listen closely and appreciate the gifted voice artists who have defined the Home Depot sound through the years! Let me know if you have any other questions about Home Depot‘s iconic commercial voices.

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