Danny Dark, the unseen voice of Budweiser, StarKist Tuna and many other national brands in television and radio commercials, died June 13 in Los Angeles. He was 65.
The cause of death was bleeding in the lungs, said his brother, Rev. Robert Croskery.
The trade paper Radio & Records said, “Dark’s distinctive voice has been heard in more award-winning commercials than any announcer in broadcast history.”
In the StarKist commercials, he told Charlie Tuna, “Sorry, Charlie”; in Budweiser spots he said, “This Bud’s for you”; and in commercials for Raid Ant & Roach Killer he said, “Raid kills bugs dead.”
Mr. Dark, who lived in Los Angeles, was acknowledged in the commercial industry as the voice-over king.
“Those were not just anonymous voice-overs, but they are classic lines, a part of pop culture that Danny Dark brought to life with his unique style,” said Joe Cipriano, an announcer for Fox television, who called Mr. Dark his mentor.
Daniel Melville Croskery–Mr. Dark’s real name–was born in Oklahoma City and reared in Tulsa. He graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, which was then a training ground for future stars. Paul Harvey and Tony Randall also graduated from there.
While studying at Drury University in Springfield, Mo., Mr. Dark began a radio career that took him to Tulsa, Cleveland, Miami, New Orleans, St. Louis, and finally a 1963-66 stint as the evening disc jockey for KLAC-AM in Los Angeles.
He broke into voice-over work in the mid-1960s. His first demonstration tapes were rough, but Los Angeles radio pioneer Chuck Blore helped him refine his delivery.
Mr. Dark was the voice of Superman in the “Super Friends” cartoon series.
Survivors also include his wife, JoBee Croskery, a son and three daughters, and two stepdaughters.
