Ben Burtt
Sound
July 12, 1948 (77 years old)
Jamesville, New York, USA
Male
115 Movies
5 TV Shows
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.
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets 
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
2008 6.4
as WALL·E / M-O (voice)
Age 60 (now 77)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 6.6
as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 77)
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett 
Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
2021 6.9
as Self
Age 73 (now 77) Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound 
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019 6.9
as Self
Age 71 (now 77)
The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz 
The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
2013 10.0
as Self
Age 65 (now 77)
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of 
Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of
2012 6.7
as Self
Age 63 (now 77)
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
WALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
2008 6.4
as WALL·E / M-O (voice)
Age 60 (now 77) Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up 
Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds from the Sound Up
2008 8.0
Age 60 (now 77) RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World” 
RKO Production 601: The Making of “Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World”
2008 8.0
as Self
Age 60 (now 77) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
2008 6.0
Sound Designer
Age 59 (now 77)
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 
Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001
2007 6.2
as Self
Age 59 (now 77) The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
TD
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
2007 7.0
as Self
Age 59 (now 77) Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet 
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006 4.5
as Self
Age 58 (now 77) Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon 
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006 7.0
as Self
Age 58 (now 77)
Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III 
Star Wars: Within a Minute - The Making of Episode III
2005 7.2
as Self
Age 57 (now 77) Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema 
Ben-Hur: The Epic That Changed Cinema
2005 6.6
as Self
Age 57 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith 
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2005 7.5
Supervising Sound Editor
Age 56 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2005 7.5
Editor
Age 56 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2005 7.5
Sound Designer
Age 56 (now 77)
Star Wars: Droids - Treasure of the Hidden Planet 
Star Wars: Droids - Treasure of the Hidden Planet
2004 6.6
Story
Age 56 (now 77) Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy 
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
2004 7.8
as Self - Sound Designer
Age 56 (now 77)
From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in 'Episode II' 
From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in 'Episode II'
2002 6.8
as Self
Age 54 (now 77) Films Are Not Released, They Escape 
Films Are Not Released, They Escape
2002 6.0
as Self
Age 54 (now 77) State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II' 
State of the Art: The Pre-Visualization of 'Episode II'
2002 6.0
as Self
Age 54 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 6.6
Sound Designer
Age 53 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 6.6
Editor
Age 53 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 6.6
Supervising Sound Editor
Age 53 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 6.6
as Wat Tambor (uncredited)
Age 53 (now 77)
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Espionage Escapades
2000 5.5
Sound Designer
Age 52 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Demons of Deception
1999 5.5
Editor
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Daredevils of the Desert
1999 5.6
Editor
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues
1999 5.8
Second Unit Director
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Masks of Evil
1999 5.3
Sound Designer
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life
1999 6.0
Second Unit Director
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life
1999 6.0
Editor
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Tales of Innocence
1999 5.8
Sound Designer
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom
1999 6.1
Second Unit Director
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure
1999 5.9
Second Unit Director
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell
1999 5.8
Second Unit Director
Age 51 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell
1999 5.8
Editor
Age 51 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 6.6
Sound Designer
Age 50 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 6.6
Supervising Sound Editor
Age 50 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 6.6
Editor
Age 50 (now 77) Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 6.6
as Naboo Courier (uncredited)
Age 50 (now 77) Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery 
Star Wars: The Magic & the Mystery
1997 8.0
as Self
Age 48 (now 77) Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects 
Behind the Scenes with King Kong in Special Effects
1996
Director
Age 48 (now 77) The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial' 
The Making of 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'
1996 7.4
as Self
Age 48 (now 77) Special Effects: Anything Can Happen 
Special Effects: Anything Can Happen
1996 10.0
Director
Age 47 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father
1996 6.1
Sound Designer
Age 47 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen 
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
1995 5.9
Director
Age 47 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
1995 5.9
Writer
Age 47 (now 77) The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen
1995 5.9
Editor
Age 47 (now 77)
The True Story of Glory Continues 
The True Story of Glory Continues
1991 6.8
Director
Age 42 (now 77)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989 7.9
Sound Designer
Age 40 (now 77)
Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep 
Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep
1986 6.2
Associate Producer
Age 37 (now 77) Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep
Star Wars: Droids - The Great Heep
1986 6.2
Writer
Age 37 (now 77) The Adventures of André and Wally B. 
The Adventures of André and Wally B.
1984 5.3
Sound Designer
Age 36 (now 77) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984 7.3
Sound Designer
Age 35 (now 77) From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga 
From Star Wars to Jedi: The Making of a Saga
1983 7.4
as Self
Age 35 (now 77) Return of the Jedi 
Return of the Jedi
1983 7.9
as 'Freeze' Officer in Endor Bunker / Tortured Power Droid (voice)
Age 34 (now 77)
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back 
The Making of The Empire Strikes Back
1980 8.0
as Self
Age 32 (now 77) Star Wars: Music by John Williams 
Star Wars: Music by John Williams
1980 7.3
as Self
Age 31 (now 77)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers 
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1978 7.2
Sound Effects Designer
Age 30 (now 77)
Gathering insights...
Also Known As
Benjamin Burtt Jr.
IMDB
nm0123785