Elwood Edwards, known for his voice in AOL’s famous “You’ve Got Mail” slogan, has died at 74.
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WKYC-TV Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, confirmed that he passed away after struggling with an unknown illness. In addition to his voiceover work, he also worked as a graphic artist and camera operator. According to TMZ, Edwards was asked by AOL to record four short phrases: “Welcome,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Files Done,” and “Goodbye.” For this work, Edwards received a payment of $200 in 1989.
As the company grew in popularity and amassed millions of users, Edwards’ voice became synonymous with email arrivals along with the growth of the internet. Despite his fame, he remained behind the scenes, his voice more famous than his face. Even after AOL slowed down in recent years, his audio legacy continued to resonate, symbolizing the Y2K era.
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The report stated that Edwards appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015, where he delivered his iconic line. Edwards stated that he did not receive any residuals for his voiceover work with AOL, but he maintained a good relationship with the company.
In response to his death, Generation Xers and millennials reminisced about hearing Edwards’ voice when launching America Online on their computers.
