About
Ben Burtt
Overview
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.
Known for
Acting |
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| 2021 | Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2019 | Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2018 | The Force of Sound | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2015 | I Am Your Father | Actor | Himself | 59 Average |
| 2014 | And the Oscar Goes To... | Actor | Self - Interviewee | 59 Average |
| 2014 | EditDroid: Rise and Fall | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2013 | The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Lincoln: An American Journey | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2012 | Wings: Grandeur in the Sky | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2012 | Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 2008 | Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up | Actor | 58 Average |
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| 2008 | WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets | Actor | WALL·E / M-O (voice) | 58 Average |
| 2008 | BURN·E | Actor | WALL·E / M-O (voice) (uncredited) | 68 Fair |
| 2008 | RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2008 | WALL·E | Actor | WALL·E / M-O (voice) | 80 Very good |
| 2007 | Fog City Mavericks | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2007 | The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2006 | Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 2006 | Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2005 | Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2005 | George Lucas: Creating an Empire | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2004 | Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy | Actor | Self - Sound Designer | 63 Fair |
| 2004 | When Star Wars Ruled the World | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2003 | The Sound of 'Indiana Jones' | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2002 | From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in 'Episode II' | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 2002 | Films Are Not Released, They Escape | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 2002 | State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II' | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 2001 | R2-D2: Beneath the Dome | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Actor | Naboo Courier (uncredited) | 65 Fair |
| 1997 | Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
| 1996 | The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1983 | From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Actor | 'Freeze' Officer in Endor Bunker / Tortured Power Droid (voice) | 78 Good |
| 1980 | The Making of The Empire Strikes Back | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
| 1980 | Star Wars: Music by John Williams | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
| 1978 | The Story of the Faithful Wookiee | Actor | Chewbacca / R2-D2 (voice) (uncredited) | 58 Average |
| A Bucket of Water and a Glass Matte | Actor | N/A N/A |
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Directing |
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| 2022 | Spy Smasher Strikes Back | Directing | Director | 60 Fair |
| 2002 | Manassas: End of Innocence | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life | Directing | Second Unit Director | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell | Directing | Second Unit Director | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure | Directing | Second Unit Director | 58 Average |
| 1996 | Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
| 1996 | Special Effects: Anything Can Happen | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
| 1994 | Destiny in Space | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom | Directing | Second Unit Director | 58 Average |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues | Directing | Second Unit Director | 58 Average |
| 1992 | The American Gangster | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
| 1991 | The True Story of Glory Continues | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
| 1990 | Blue Planet | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
Writing |
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| 2022 | Spy Smasher Strikes Back | Writing | Story | 60 Fair |
| 2004 | Star Wars: Droids - Treasure of the Hidden Planet | Writing | Story | 58 Average |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
| 1986 | Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
Production |
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| 2022 | Spy Smasher Strikes Back | Production | Producer | 60 Fair |
| 1986 | Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep | Production | Associate Producer | 58 Average |
Sound |
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| 2022 | Spy Smasher Strikes Back | Sound | Sound Designer | 60 Fair |
| 2021 | Star Wars Galaxy of Sounds | Sound | Sound Designer | 67 Fair |
| 2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | Sound | Sound Designer | 72 Good |
| 2014 | The Signal | Sound | Sound Designer | 59 Average |
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | Sound | Sound Designer | 72 Good |
| 2013 | Escape from Planet Earth | Sound | Sound Designer | 57 Average |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Sound | Sound Designer | 67 Fair |
| 2012 | 009 Re:Cyborg | Sound | Sound Designer | 60 Fair |
| 2012 | John Carter | Sound | Sound Designer | 63 Fair |
| 2012 | Red Tails | Sound | Sound Designer | 62 Fair |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Sound | Sound Designer | 67 Fair |
| 2011 | Super 8 | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 67 Fair |
| 2008 | BURN·E | Sound | Sound Designer | 68 Fair |
| 2008 | WALL·E | Sound | Sound Re-Recording Mixer | 80 Very good |
| 2008 | WALL·E | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 80 Very good |
| 2008 | WALL·E | Sound | Sound Designer | 80 Very good |
| 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Sound | Sound Designer | 60 Fair |
| 2005 | Munich | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 69 Fair |
| 2005 | Munich | Sound | Sound Designer | 69 Fair |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | Sound | Sound Designer | 73 Good |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 73 Good |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 65 Fair |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | Sound | Sound Designer | 65 Fair |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades | Sound | Sound Designer | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil | Sound | Sound Designer | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence | Sound | Sound Designer | 58 Average |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 65 Fair |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Sound | Sound Designer | 65 Fair |
| 1996 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father | Sound | Sound Designer | 58 Average |
| 1989 | Always | Sound | Sound Designer | 61 Fair |
| 1989 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Sound | Sound Designer | 77 Good |
| 1988 | Willow | Sound | Sound Designer | 67 Fair |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Sound | Sound Effects Editor | 55 Average |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Sound | Sound Re-Recording Mixer | 55 Average |
| 1984 | The Adventures of André and Wally B. | Sound | Sound Designer | 56 Average |
| 1984 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Sound | Sound Designer | 72 Good |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Sound | Sound Designer | 78 Good |
| 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Sound | Sound Designer | 78 Good |
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | Sound | Sound Designer | 83 Very good |
| 1979 | More American Graffiti | Sound | Supervising Sound Editor | 57 Average |
| 1979 | Alien | Sound | Sound Designer | 80 Very good |
| 1978 | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Sound | Sound Effects Designer | 68 Fair |
| 1978 | The Star Wars Holiday Special | Sound | Sound Effects | 46 Bad |
| 1977 | Star Wars | Sound | Sound Designer | 81 Very good |
| 1975 | Death Race 2000 | Sound | Sound Designer | 59 Average |
| 1975 | Recorded Live | Sound | Sound Re-Recording Mixer | 59 Average |
Crew |
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| 2009 | Star Trek | Crew | Special Sound Effects | 73 Good |
| 1980 | Porklips Now | Crew | Military Consultant | 58 Average |
Editing |
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| 2022 | Spy Smasher Strikes Back | Editing | Editor | 60 Fair |
| 2012 | Red Tails | Editing | Editor | 62 Fair |
| 2005 | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith | Editing | Editor | 73 Good |
| 2002 | Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones | Editing | Editor | 65 Fair |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, The Giver and Taker of Life | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
| 1999 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | Editing | Editor | 65 Fair |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |