Voice Over Talent Being Displaced By Celebrities

Tom Kane hates the ads for Mercedes-Benz. It’s not the car. It’s Jon Hamm. Mercedes uses the “Mad Men” star as the voice of its television and radio commercials.

“Even if it is a terrific spot — which it isn’t — people don’t have a clue who that is,” grumbled Kane, a professional voice actor who’s done animation, movie trailers and commercials for two decades.

As brand-name advertisers fight for attention in a cluttered media landscape, they are turning increasingly to celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr. (Nissan), Jeff Bridges (Hyundai) and Tim Allen (Chevrolet) to pitch their products.