Ben Burtt
Sound
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
Sound39
movieRay Gunn
2026
Sound Designer
tvStar Wars Galaxy of Sounds
2021
Sound Designer
movieStar Wars: The Force Awakens
2015
Sound Designer
movieThe Signal
2014
Sound Designer
movieStar Trek Into Darkness
2013
Sound Designer
movieEscape from Planet Earth
2013
Sound Designer
movieLincoln
2012
Sound Designer
movie009 Re:Cyborg
2012
Sound Designer
movieJohn Carter
2012
Sound Designer
movieRed Tails
2012
Sound Designer
movieSuper 8
2011
Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor
movieBURN·E
2008
Sound Designer
movieWALL·E
2008
Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer
movieMunich
2005
Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor
movieStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2005
Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer
movieStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002
Sound Designer, Supervising Sound Editor
movieStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999
Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer
movieAlways
1989
Sound Designer
movieIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1989
Sound Designer
movieWillow
1988
Sound Designer
movieHoward the Duck
1986
Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Effects Editor
movieThe Adventures of André and Wally B.
1984
Sound Designer
movieIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
1984
Sound Designer
movieReturn of the Jedi
1983
Sound Designer
movielisten...
1982
Sound Effects
movieRaiders of the Lost Ark
1981
Sound Designer
movieThe Empire Strikes Back
1980
Sound Designer
movieMore American Graffiti
1979
Supervising Sound Editor
movieAlien
1979
Sound Designer
movieInvasion of the Body Snatchers
1978
Sound Effects Designer
movieThe Star Wars Holiday Special
1978
Sound Effects
movieStar Wars
1977
Sound Designer
movieDeath Race 2000
1975
Sound Designer
movieRecorded Live
1975
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Acting42
tvLIGHT & MAGIC
2022
Self - Sound Designer and Editor / Self - Editor
movieI Am Your Father
2015
Himself
movieAnd the Oscar Goes To...
2014
Self - Interviewee
movieWALL·E's Treasures & Trinkets
2008
WALL·E / M-O (voice)
movieBURN·E
2008
WALL·E / M-O (voice) (uncredited)
movieWALL·E
2008
WALL·E / M-O (voice)
The Dawn of Sound: How Movies Learned to Talk
2007
Self
movieEmpire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
2004
Self - Sound Designer
movieStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002
Wat Tambor (uncredited)
movieStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999
Naboo Courier (uncredited)
movieReturn of the Jedi
1983
'Freeze' Officer in Endor Bunker / Tortured Power Droid (voice)
Directing13
movieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Mystery of the Blues
1999
Second Unit Director
movieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Spring Break Adventure
1999
Second Unit Director
movieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Phantom Train of Doom
1999
Second Unit Director
movieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life
1999
Second Unit Director
movieThe Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Trenches of Hell
1999
Second Unit Director
movieDestiny in Space
1994
Director
movieThe American Gangster
1992
Director
movieBlue Planet
1990
Director
Editing9
movieRed Tails
2012
Editor
Writing5
Crew2
movieStar Trek
2009
Special Sound Effects
moviePorklips Now
1980
Military Consultant
Creator1
tvStar Wars: Droids
1985
Creator
Production1
movieStar Wars: Droids - The Great Heep
1986
Associate Producer