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Ben Burtt

Ben Burtt

Sound·1948·48 films

Benjamin "Ben" Burtt, Jr. is a sound designer, film editor, director, screenwriter, and voice actor. He has worked as sound designer on various films, including the Star Wars and Indiana Jones film series, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, WALL-E, and Star Trek. He is responsible for creating many of the iconic sound effects heard in the Star Wars film franchise, including the binary speech of R2-D2, the lightsaber hum, the sound of the blaster guns, and the heavy-breathing sound of Darth Vader, which he made by breathing into a scuba regulator. Burtt has a reputation for popularizing a sound effect

As Actor

WALL·E
WALL·E (2008)WALL·E / M-O (voice)
Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi (1983)'Freeze' Officer in Endor Bunker / Tortured Power Droid (voice)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)Naboo Courier (uncredited)
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)Wat Tambor (uncredited)
BURN·E
BURN·E (2008)WALL·E / M-O (voice) (uncredited)
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004)Self - Sound Designer
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound (2019)Self
And the Oscar Goes To...
And the Oscar Goes To... (2014)Self - Interviewee
I Am Your Father
I Am Your Father (2015)Himself
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett (2021)Self
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome
R2-D2: Beneath the Dome (2001)Self
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga (1983)Self
Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III
Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III (2005)Self
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' (1996)Self
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)Self
From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in 'Episode II'
From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in 'Episode II' (2002)Self
When Star Wars Ruled the World
When Star Wars Ruled the World (2004)Self
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (2007)Self
Star Wars: Music by John Williams
Star Wars: Music by John Williams (1980)Self
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema (2005)Self
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets (2008)WALL·E / M-O (voice)
The Sound of 'Indiana Jones'
The Sound of 'Indiana Jones' (2003)Self
The Force of Sound
The Force of Sound (2018)Self
Lincoln: An American Journey
Lincoln: An American Journey (2013)Self
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back (1980)Self
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006)Self
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of (2012)Self
Fog City Mavericks
Fog City Mavericks (2007)Self
State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II'
State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II' (2002)Self
The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2013)Self
Films Are Not Released, They Escape
Films Are Not Released, They Escape (2002)Self
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery (1997)Self
George Lucas: Creating an Empire
George Lucas: Creating an Empire (2005)Self
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” (2008)Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon (2006)Self
Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up
Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up (2008)
Wings: Grandeur in the Sky
Wings: Grandeur in the Sky (2012)Self
EditDroid: Rise and Fall
EditDroid: Rise and Fall (2014)Self

As Director

As Writer