If you’ve ever listened to an audiobook, you know how much influence the narrator has on your overall experience, whether you’re reading fiction or nonfiction.
Being an audiobook narrator is no walk in the park, as this article by The Guardian reveals. Yet, the best ones have a knack for making the grueling recording process sound effortless, and can make listeners feel all the emotions the writer intended.
In this post, we’re recognizing some of the best talent in the audiobook world so you can get to know the names and faces behind the famous voices.
Best Audiobook Narrators of All Time
Below are 20 of the best audiobook narrators of all time, plus some of their most notable works.
1. George Guidall
George Guidall has narrated over 1,300 audiobooks, including many of the longest-running mystery and thriller series.
Throughout his more than 20-year career, Guidall has received numerous accolades and industry awards. In 2015, he was awarded the Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Notable works:
2. Scott Brick
Actor and writer Scott Brick has narrated over 900 audiobooks, earning over 50 Earphone Awards, two Audies, and even a Grammy nomination.
He also his own audiobook recording studio and publishing company, Brick By Brick Audiobooks, to help streamline production and ensuring consistency across his work.
Notable works:
3. Jim Dale
Jim Dale narrated all seven Harry Potter books and created a total of 134 different voices for the series. The award-winning British actor got his start as a stand-up comedian in 1951, and starred in dozens of productions with the British National Theatre Company and on Broadway.
He’s won multiple awards and earned many nominations. In 2003, Queen Elizabeth II even named him a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2003.
Notable works:
4. Jeremy Irons
You may recognize Academy Award–winning actor Jeremy Irons’ voice from his many film roles, including Reversal of Fortune, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, and The Lion King (in which he voices Scar).
It’s no surprise, then, that’s he’s also lent his voice to a string of audiobooks.
Notable works:
5. Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan has authored a novel and starred in several film and television roles, but her work as an audiobook narrator has earned her the most critical acclaim, with hits like Gone Girl under her belt.
Whelan also writes long-form journalism for publications like Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.
Notable works:
6. Cassandra Campbell
Cassandra Campbell has over 700 audiobook narrator credits to her name and has won four Audie Awards (plus 12 nominations).
In 2018, she was inducted into Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.
Notable works:
7. Toni Morrison
Nobel and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Toni Morrison also narrated many of the audiobooks for her own works.
Although her books contain deep and serious themes, Morrison’s voice is simultaneously enthralling yet soothing.
Notable works:
8. Frank Muller
Frank Muller was a stage and television actor, but he was best known for his work as an audiobook narrator, frequently collaborating with prolific authors like Stephen King.
Notable works:
9. Vikas Adam
Vikas Adam is a classically trained actor who has starred on stage, in film, and several television shows and commercials.
He has also narrated over 200 audiobooks, and has been applauded for his talent transitioning between various accents, including Australian, English, American, and Indian.
Notable works:
10. Neil Gaiman
When authors narrate their own work, listeners have the privilege of hearing the book as the writer intended it to be read.
Neil Gaiman is one master storyteller who has narrated the audio versions for most of his own books.
Notable works:
11. Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry is a British actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, and writer who gained popularity for his comic double act alongside Hugh Laurie.
As an audiobook narrator, he’s narrated the UK audio versions of the Harry Potter series, among many other titles. He has also lent his voice to numerous video games and animated series.
Notable works:
12. Edward Herrmann
Edward Herrmann won numerous audiobook awards, and as an actor earned a Primetime Emmy and a Tony award. Some of his film appearances include The Aviator, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Overboard.
As an audiobook narrator, he lent his warm but authoritative voice to many biographies and works about history.
Notable works:
13. Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming is well-known for his stage and screen roles, and it’s perhaps his acting experience that has made him such a great audiobook narrator, especially for his own memoirs.
Notable works:
14. Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Davis is a 3-time Audie winner and 16-time nominee. He first wowed listeners with his narration of science fiction, but later began working on more nonfiction titles, proving his remarkable versatility.
Notable works:
15. Dion Graham
Following an illustrious acting career, Dion Graham found success as an audiobook narrator, where his work has earned him dozens of awards.
Graham’s portfolio is impressively diverse, ranging from the Dalai Lama’s memoir to John Grisham novels.
Notable works:
16. Lorelei King
Lorelei King is an American actress who settled in London and had roles in such films as Notting HIll and 24 Hours in London before finding great success as an audiobook narrator.
Her dynamic voice has delivered humorous tales, as well as darker true stories, including a book about serial killer Ted Bundy.
Notable works:
17. Bahni Turpin
Bahni Turpin has been voicing strong, bold characters and narratives for years, but recently she’s been on a roll with numerous bestsellers.
As an actress, Turpin has also appeared on shows like Criminal Minds and Star Trek, and she has also been a yoga instructor for many years.
Notable works:
18. Davina Porter
Davina Porter has over 400 audiobook credits to her name, and is best known as the narrator of the unabridged Outlander series.
She has also performed many classics, including Anna Karenina and The Mists of Avalon.
Notable works:
19. Simon Vance
After working as a newsreader and presenter for BBC Radio 4, Vance entered the world of audiobook narration, a career that’s brought him 15 Audie wins and 43 nominations, plus 64 Earphone Awards.
Among his most impressive work is Alan Moore’s Jerusalem, which is 2,000 words longer than the Bible.
Notable works:
20. Robin Miles
Robin Miles enjoyed a career on Broadway and television before getting her start in audio through the American Foundation for the Blind.
Since then, she’s earned several Audie nominations and worked on large cast recordings, including In the Embers, which won Best Audio Drama in 2017.
Notable works:
Who Is the Most Sought After Audiobook Narrator?
It’s hard to measure who the most “sought after” audiobook narrator is, but George Guidall and Scott Brick have two of the largest portfolios in the industry, with 1,300 and 900 titles to their names, respectively.
Of course, different audiobooks call for different types of voices and talent, but these two actors have demonstrated a versatility that has allowed them to work on a wide range of projects.
Find the Best Audiobook Narrator for Your Book
The 20 narrators on this list are among the most successful in the industry and can charge tens of thousands of dollars for their services (not to mention they’re probably booked most of the time).
But you can still learn how to find top talent for your own book in our post on how to make an audiobook. There are hundreds of highly talented voice actors that you can find through ACX. Or, if you’re interested in this line of work yourself, be sure to check out our post on how to become an audiobook narrator.
Do you have a favorite audiobook narrator? Tell us about them in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Make an Audiobook: A Guide to Self Publishing Audiobooks
- How to Listen to Audiobooks: 4 Tips for Effective Listening
- 21 Best Audiobooks for Road Trips: What to Listen to On Your Next Drive
- Audible Review: How It Works and Who Should Subscribe
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
I love R.C. Bray! I buy anything he narrates. Sean Runette and Bronson Pinchot are awesome also.
I am trying to remember a narrator named George (not Guidell, though), last name a bit tricky, Eastern European sounding? May have done some Alexander McCall Smith books.
Senior moments are so troublesome
Campbell Scott is simply A-M-Azing.
And so is John Slattery.
Gareth Armstrong fully grasps the measure of every word and punctuation mark; masters pace and intonation. No need for caricature or melodrama, With the legendary INSPECTOR MAIGRET he is superlative. Writer, actor and teacher himself, INTELLIGENCE inhabits each sentence. The style is understated, Armstrong defers to Simenon’s art. The books are short and sweet so the plot stays fresh in the listener’s mind. The test of a great writer not to mention skilled narrator is returning to a work multiple times. Fantastic relaxation for detective/crime fans. The narrator owns to having a blast making the recordings.
I would listen to a cookbook if read by Joe Mantegna. Probably too busy on the screen to be included as a major reader but I only listen to Robert B Parker so I can hear him. It’s true that a reader can make or ruin a novel (dear Burt Reynolds reading Parker is like a pencil in your eye), and I so miss Anna Fields / Kate Fleming. Judy Kaye is also a first choice. I’m glad to have this input so I can source out new choices.
Jefferson Mays made listening to audible pleasurable for me. I quit many books before he was recommended to me. His reading of The Expanse series is amazing. Thanks for all of the other tips!
Where’s Blair Brown and Judy Kaye? Both excellent readers.
I feel that the top narrators in the romance category is as follows: Wen Ross, Shane East, Troy Duran, Sebastian York, and Jacobi Diem.
Edoardo Ballerini, Juliet Stevenson, Hilary Huber, Grover Gardner, Ralph Cosham, Nadia May (aka Wanda McCaddon). Yes to Bronson Pinchot, Ray Porter and Will Patton.
Bronson Pinchot. A favorite for me in the manner of Frank Muller and George Guidall. Listen to his readings of Daniel Mendelsohn (An Odyssey, The Lost). Ditto for Richard Poe. Listen to his readings of Wallace Stegner’s Crossing to Safety or Robert Kanigel’s Hearing Homer’s Song.
I listen to romance books and Sebastian York and Andi Arndt are my top two narrators.
One of the best narrators ever was Kate Fleming also know as Kate Fields. Unfortunately, she died in a freak rain storm in 2006 at the age of 41.
You are missing a couple that spring to mind and are award winning:
Steve West
Joe Jameson
Shane East
James Joseph
Jason Clarke
Zara Hampton-Brown
Andi Arndt
Clare Corbett
What about Sebastian York who is so great at narrating these romance books?
Will Patton. Awesome!
Agreed! Will Patton is among my favorite narrators.
I will listen to a book just to hear him narrate.
Tim Gerard Reynolds didn’t make this list? This is not a legitimate list.
Marc Thompson is AMAZING! He does the Star Wars audiobooks and he can do anything that you want. He’s really gifted and can do any voice. Please give him a listen!
I’m stunned Barbara Rosenblat hasn’t made the list. Her range is unmatched, almost as if you are listening to a multi-voice performance. Another female with over 400 books to her credit, she could make “Dick and Jane” readers sound like Pulitzer Prize winning novels.
Agree! Her narration of the Elizabeth Peters books is amazing!
She’s been one of my favorites, too.
Ray Porter is 100% a fantastic narrator!
I want the one and only audio book that Katie McGrath has recorded, but it isn’t available in the US. Actually, I WANT it not to be the only book in existence.
Consider Kate Reading. Her narration of Sherry Thomas’ Lady Sherlock series is fantastic. I have listened to everything I can find of Readings work.
I love Scott Bricks, I find myself looking for books on Audible that he is the narrator. Richard Armitage also has a very nice voice but he only has a few books for now, hopefully he will narrate more in the future. Great list, thank you for posting it.
Love Richard Armitage as well. He does an English crime series on Audible.
I could listen to Kevin Pierce read the phone book. Very surprised he missed the cut.
My guy is Michael Beck.. John Grisham books
Guess you haven’t heard a book read by Luke Daniels. Really surprised he isn’t in this list.
Would like to have seen more female narrators. January Lavoy is a favorite as well as Joanne Froggart.
We’ll work on a more diverse list, Diane. Thanks for recommending your favorite narrators!
Sean mangan the narrator of Grieg beck audio books is the best…
You left off 3 of the Best. Mark Thompson Ray Porter January LaVoy.