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An unforgettable voice but a rarely seen face

… the man behind the voice: Dominique Collignon‑Maurin …

MARTINA NICOLLS

Aug 8

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Dominique Collignon‑Maurin passed away on 4 August 2025, in Paris, at the age of 76, after a long illness. Few outside of France would recognize his face but his voice became legendary.

He was the French voice of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in the original Star Wars trilogy, a role that cemented his presence and career in countless movies, making him “the dubbing king.”

He was also the French voice-over for Nicolas Cage in most of his movies from The Cotton Club to Dream Scenario, and the French voice of Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Gary Oldman, Kevin Kline, John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, James Woods, Roberto Benigni, among many others.

French-speaking people also heard his voice in Disney movies, such as for the character Arthur Pendragon in the 1963 movie The Sword in the Stone; Hades in the 1997 movie Hercules, One-Eyed in the 1998 movie A Bug’s Life, Leon the chameleon in the 2001 movie Monsters Inc., and Gill in Finding Nemo (2003).

France's Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, gave a moving tribute, calling Dominique Collignon‑Maurin “an indispensable figure in French dubbing… who translated the emotions of the greatest actors” into French with grace and sensitivity.”

Dominique Collignon‑Maurin, born in 1947 in Toulouse, France, came from an acting family and as a child was involved in his family troupe known as “The Little Maurins” performing until his teen years. He acted in several films such as The American Beauty (1961), Special Friendships (1964), Snow (1981), The Princes (1983), Zanzibar (1989), and Cold Moon(1991). He was also an author, director, and musician.

Voice actors like Dominique Collignon‑Maurin shape our cinematic memories even when their appearances remain in the background. His voice connected French-speaking audiences with heroes, villains, and dreamers from around the globe. In the world of dubbing, he was a master, making foreign performances feel native, immediate, and popular.

***

A Beautiful Voice
(a poem made up of haikus)

A beautiful voice
Melodious and cheerful
Calling out to me

I reach out to it
But it slips away from me
Angering my soul

My heart is aching
My ears are burning away
My fingers tremble

Every time I try
To find that beautiful voice
It is all in vain

The world seems empty
Without the beautiful voice
Soothing my cold ears

I have made a vow
To keep that inside my
Chain of memories

Will that vow come true?
Can I wait forever for
That beautiful voice?