The '80s were everything—big hair, neon lights, and, of course, some of the most iconic voices in TV history. Whether it was the upbeat energy of Full House, the mystery of Knight Rider, or the unforgettable sarcasm of The Simpsons (yup, it started in the '80s!), the voices of this decade were loud, bold, and unapologetically fun. In a time when TV was evolving into a global pop culture force, the voices helped define a new era of entertainment.
Here at Voices.Directory, we’re diving into the larger-than-life personalities that made the ‘80s a decade you’ll never forget. But it’s not just about nostalgia—we’re here to unpack what made these voices work. What was it about that cheesy TV announcer style? The hyper-energy of characters who always had something to say? The way they blended humor with drama, and somehow made it all feel effortlessly cool?
This blog is a hub for anyone passionate about voice technology, AI, or TTS. Whether you’re a pro speaker, a voice actor, or just a lover of tech, we want to hear how these iconic voices shaped your world—and how we can use them to build the next-gen AI voices. The ‘80s were loud, and we think it's time to bring that energy into the future with ElevenLabs voice design. Let’s discuss, experiment, and reimagine the magic of those larger-than-life voices, and see how they can inspire cutting-edge sound in today’s tech.
So, if you’re ready to talk volume, character, and that undeniable ‘80s vibe, come join the conversation. Let’s bring the big voice energy into 2024 and beyond!
Here are 50 of the most popular TV characters from the 1980s, along with the actors who portrayed them: | 1. Alex P. Keaton – Michael J. Fox (Family Ties) | 2. J.R. Ewing – Larry Hagman (Dallas) | 3. Cliff Huxtable – Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show) | 4. Alf – Paul Fusco (puppeteer) (ALF) | 5. Sam Malone – Ted Danson (Cheers) | 6. Diane Chambers – Shelley Long (Cheers) | 7. Angela Channing – Jane Wyman (Falcon Crest) | 8. Magnum, P.I. (Thomas Magnum) – Tom Selleck (Magnum, P.I.) | 9. Jessica Fletcher – Angela Lansbury (Murder, She Wrote) | 10. Hannibal Smith – George Peppard (The A-Team) | 11. Michael Knight – David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider) | 12. Balki Bartokomous – Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers) | 13. MacGyver – Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) | 14. Zack Morris – Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Saved by the Bell) | 15. Kelly Kapowski – Tiffani Thiessen (Saved by the Bell) | 16. Murphy Brown – Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown) | 17. Dan Fielding – John Larroquette (Night Court) | 18. Sophia Petrillo – Estelle Getty (The Golden Girls) | 19. Rose Nylund – Betty White (The Golden Girls) | 20. Blanche Devereaux – Rue McClanahan (The Golden Girls) | 21. Dorothy Zbornak – Bea Arthur (The Golden Girls) | 22. B.A. Baracus – Mr. T (The A-Team) | 23. Bo Duke – John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard) | 24. Luke Duke – Tom Wopat (The Dukes of Hazzard) | 25. Angela Bower – Judith Light (Who’s the Boss?) | 26. Tony Micelli – Tony Danza (Who’s the Boss?) | 27. David Addison – Bruce Willis (Moonlighting) | 28. Maddie Hayes – Cybill Shepherd (Moonlighting) | 29. Steven Keaton – Michael Gross (Family Ties) | 30. Jo Polniaczek – Nancy McKeon (The Facts of Life) | 31. Arnold Jackson – Gary Coleman (Diff’rent Strokes) | 32. George Jefferson – Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons) | 33. Crockett and Tubbs – Don Johnson & Philip Michael Thomas (Miami Vice) | 34. Al Bundy – Ed O’Neill (Married… with Children) | 35. Peg Bundy – Katey Sagal (Married… with Children) | 36. Kevin Arnold – Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) | 37. Willie Tanner – Max Wright (ALF) | 38. Knight Industries Two Thousand (KITT) – William Daniels (voice) (Knight Rider) | 39. David Seaver – Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) | 40. Joey Gladstone – Dave Coulier (Full House) | 41. Uncle Jesse Katsopolis – John Stamos (Full House) | 42. Stephanie Tanner – Jodie Sweetin (Full House) | 43. Sheriff Rosco Coltrane – James Best (The Dukes of Hazzard) | 44. Marcy D’Arcy – Amanda Bearse (Married... with Children) | 45. Detective Sledge Hammer – David Rasche (Sledge Hammer!) | 46. Webster Long – Emmanuel Lewis (Webster) | 47. Michael Stivic – Rob Reiner (Archie Bunker’s Place) | 48. Ricky Stratton – Ricky Schroder (Silver Spoons) | 49. Corky Thatcher – Chris Burke (Life Goes On) | 50. Mork – Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy)