Elwood Edwards
Elwood Hughes Edwards Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | November 5, 2024 (aged 74) New Bern, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Voice talent, announcer, minister |
| Years active | 1964–2016 |
| Known for | Voice of America Online (AOL) audio cues, including "You've got mail" |
Elwood Hughes Edwards Jr. (November 6, 1949 – November 5, 2024) was an American voice talent renowned for providing the distinctive audio cues for the Internet service provider America Online beginning in 1989, most famously the phrase "You've got mail."
Career
Edwards' career launched in radio during his high school years in 1964 before he moved into television as a live booth announcer. Although he occasionally appeared on camera in commercials and brief stints as a reporter and weather presenter, his main contributions were behind the scenes in roles such as graphics and camera operation. He dedicated a significant portion of his professional life to WKYC in Cleveland, retiring in 2016.
In 1989, upon recommendation from his wife—who worked at online service Q-Link—he was selected for a voice role after CEO Steve Case sought to incorporate vocal prompts into the user interface. Edwards recorded essential phrases including "Welcome," "You've got mail," and "Goodbye" from his living room using a cassette recorder, earning $200 (). These recordings became synonymous with AOL's user experience when the software launched that October.
His voice was featured in promotions for the 1998 movie You've Got Mail and appeared in a 2000 episode of The Simpsons. Following retirement, Edwards capitalized on his vocal fame by offering customized WAV audio clips through his personal website.
He also made a memorable television appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015 and was reported to be working as an Uber driver by 2016. Edwards and his connection to AOL were highlighted on the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz in 2019.
In October 2022, he returned to voice work for a commercial by e-commerce company Shopify, delivering the line "You've got sales" aimed at online sellers.
Personal life and death
Born in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on November 6, 1949, Edwards spent much of his upbringing in North Carolina towns Beaufort and New Bern. He completed his education at New Bern High School in 1967. A practicing Baptist, he also served as a minister during his lifetime.
Edwards married Betsy Fulcher, with whom he had two children before their marriage ended in divorce. He later wed Karen Adams after meeting her via an online dating service through Q-Link, but this marriage also concluded with divorce.
He passed away due to complications from a stroke at his residence in New Bern, North Carolina, on November 5, 2024, just one day shy of his 75th birthday.
Other jobs
- News graphics supervisor at WKYC-TV
- General manager of KVVV in 1998
- Production manager and senior director at WCTI-TV
- Announcer and director at WNBE-TV
- Driver for Uber
External links
- You've got mail soundmark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1949 births
- 2024 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century Baptist ministers from the United States
- AOL people
- American male voice actors
- Baptists from North Carolina
- People from New Bern, North Carolina
- People from Orrville, Ohio
- People from Glen Burnie, Maryland
- Male actors from North Carolina