8.2
Movie
Sound
Ben Burtt
- Born
- (age 78)
- Birthplace
- Jamesville, New York, USA
- Credits
- 98 titles
Biography
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 dubbed the "Wilhelm scream", which was taken from a character named Wilhelm in the 1953 film The Charge at Feather River.
Signature work
Known For
8.2
Movie
8.1
Movie
WALL·E
7.2
Movie
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
8.4
Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
7.9
Movie
Return of the Jedi
8.2
Movie
Alien
6.6
Movie
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
7.5
Movie
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
6.6
Movie
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
7.9
Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
7.9
Movie
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
7.4
Movie
Star Trek
7.3
Movie
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
7.3
Movie
Star Trek Into Darkness
6.0
Movie
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
6.8
Movie
Super 8
6.4
Movie
John Carter
6.8
Movie
Lincoln
Acting credits 43
Crew credits 61
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ray Gunn Film | Sound Designer |
| 2021 | Star Wars Galaxy of Sounds TV | Sound Designer (7 ep) |
| 2020 | Movie Archaeologists: The visual and sound effects of War of The Worlds Film | Creator |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens Film | Sound Designer |
| 2014 | The Signal Film | Sound Designer |
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness Film | Sound Designer |
| 2013 | Escape from Planet Earth Film | Sound Designer |
| 2012 | Lincoln Film | Sound Designer |
| 2012 | 009 Re:Cyborg Film | Sound Designer |
| 2012 | John Carter Film | Sound Designer |
| 2012 | Red Tails Film | Sound Designer, Editor |
| 2011 | Super 8 Film | Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor |
| 2009 | Star Trek Film | Special Sound Effects |
| 2008 | BURN·E Film | Sound Designer |
| 2008 | WALL·E Film | Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer |
| 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Film | Sound Designer |
| 2005 | Munich Film | Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Film | Editor, Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer |
| 2004 | Star Wars: Droids - Treasure of the Hidden Planet Film | Story |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Film | Editor, Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor |
| 2002 | Manassas: End of Innocence Film | Director |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades Film | Sound Designer |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception Film | Editor |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life Film | Editor, Second Unit Director |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert Film | Editor |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence Film | Sound Designer |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues Film | Second Unit Director |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure Film | Second Unit Director |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom Film | Second Unit Director |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil Film | Sound Designer |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell Film | Editor, Second Unit Director |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Film | Editor, Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer |
| 1996 | Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects Film | Director |
| 1996 | Special Effects: Anything Can Happen Film | Director |
| 1996 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father Film | Sound Designer |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen Film | Writer, Director, Editor |
| 1994 | Destiny in Space Film | Director |
| 1992 | The American Gangster Film | Director |
| 1991 | The True Story of Glory Continues Film | Director |
| 1990 | Blue Planet Film | Director |
| 1989 | Always Film | Sound Designer |
| 1989 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Film | Sound Designer |
| 1988 | Willow Film | Sound Designer |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck Film | Sound Effects Editor, Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| 1986 | Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep Film | Associate Producer, Writer |
| 1985 | Star Wars: Droids TV | Story, Creator (13 ep) |
| 1984 | The Adventures of André and Wally B. Film | Sound Designer |
| 1984 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Film | Sound Designer |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi Film | Sound Designer, Lyricist |
| 1982 | listen... Film | Sound Effects |
| 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark Film | Sound Designer |
| 1980 | Porklips Now Film | Military Consultant |
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes Back Film | Sound Designer |
| 1979 | More American Graffiti Film | Supervising Sound Editor |
| 1979 | Alien Film | Sound Designer |
| 1978 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers Film | Sound Effects Designer |
| 1978 | The Star Wars Holiday Special Film | Sound Effects |
| 1977 | The Making of Star Wars Film | Additional Photography |
| 1977 | Star Wars Film | Sound Designer |
| 1975 | Death Race 2000 Film | Sound Designer |