Harlan Rector — Biography

One of the entertainment industry's best-known voiceover artists, Harlan Rector's unmistakable voice, has introduced some of the most popular movies, radio and television commercials, and videogames ever made. Additionally, Harlan was the signature voice of The History Channel during its first four years on the air from 1995 to 1999. Voiceovers were Harlan's second career.

He began his first career as an artist in an animation studio making industrial training films and then made the jump to advertising. As an art director and producer for more than 20 years, Harlan created ad campaigns and won awards for some of the largest agencies in New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles. His voiceover talent was discovered in LA when he voiced a demo for a Honda presentation. He left art directing, moved to New York, and the rest is voiceover history.

While in New York, Harlan was inspired to create, write, and produce L.I.G.H.T. (Living In God's Hands Today), a dramatic radio series based on true-life spiritual experiences of ordinary people whose lives were changed through the glory of God. The series aired on faith-based radio stations throughout the country won an Angel Award for excellence in broadcasting and is currently being developed as a television series. Harlan also donates L.I.G.H.T., in a CD album or via podcast, to prison libraries where inmates can be inspired by listening to stories of how God works in the lives of His people.

Today, Harlan resides in Florida, and at an age when most are enjoying retirement, he's going strong with more projects than ever. Harlan still does voiceover work in his specially-designed in-house studio, and he's also rediscovering his artistic roots, creating portraits with oils, pastels, and watercolors. He's an accomplished caricaturist having captured some of the most famous celebrity faces in the entertainment business.

Harlan has also written and produced "A Taste of Heaven The Musical"—a joyous and heartfelt musical journey through the life of Jesus Christ. This is a play-within-a-play that he felt inspired to create as an expression of his faith and desire to share with others. He's also created a fascinating book titled, "Once Upon a Corner in Detroit," that features 64 celebrity caricatures he drew from life, their bios, and the interesting back story of his inspiration.