Elwood Edwards, AOL's Iconic "You've Got Mail" Voice, Passes Away At 74
Image Source: Inside Edition
Elwood Edwards passed away due to complications from a stroke on Tuesday, November 5, at his home in New Bern, North Carolina, the day before his 75th birthday. Edwards received fame from his work with AOL as the iconic “You’ve Got Mail” voice that marked the start of the internet era. In 1989, as part of his employment with Quantum Computer Services, later AOL, he recorded three other lines of dialogue: Welcome, Files Done, and Goodbye. He earned $200 for these four lines. In a 2106 interview, Edwards explained his role, “It started off as a test, just a test to see if it would catch on. At one point, they said my voice was heard more than 35 million times a day.”
After his passing, AOL released a statement, “Edward’s voice made AOL feel a little friendlier, a little more welcoming at a time when the internet was a big, new world for most people.” Edwards spent 14 years at WKYC’S 3 News in an NBC-affiliated station in Cleveland, Ohio. His roles included graphics guru, camera operator, and jack-of-all-trades. His legacy continued with the 1998 romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail, featuring a pair of lovers who met over the AOL platform. In 2000, Edwards had the opportunity to do a voice gag on The Simpsons with “You’ve Got Leprosy!” replacing the usual line. Edwards recalled that “You’ve Got Mail!” was a catchphrase, “I have a certain amount of difficulty trying to escape.”
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Image Source: Tom’s Hardware
Now, that catchphrase and Edward’s voice live on as marking a pivotal time when the internet and AOL found their way into homes. AOL GM Brendan Jennings shared his respects, “Elwood Edwards didn’t just lend his voice to AOL; he brought a sense of warmth, connection, and possibility to millions. His iconic ‘You’ve Got Mail!’ became more than a greeting — it became a symbol of the online era. We are deeply grateful for the legacy and joy he brought to AOL and all those whose internet journey began with his voice.”
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