# Who played the voice of ET in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/who-played-the-voice-of-et-in-steven-spielbergs-1982-classic/
- Published: 2026-11-09T15:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T15:56:37+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/who-played-voice-et-steven-spielberg-1982-classic/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Pat Welsh was the voice of ET.
- Ben Burtt reportedly discovered her in a camera shop.
- She recorded about 30 lines for less than $400.

## Summary

Patricia “Pat” Welsh voiced ET in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film, helping give the animatronic alien a distinctive personality. Her contribution mattered despite her being little known: ET speaks only briefly, but his voice helps make him an engaging character.

Welsh was born in San Francisco in 1915 and had worked as a radio soap opera actress. Sound designer Ben Burtt reportedly heard her raspy voice in a camera shop and invited her to audition; he later altered its pitch and mixed it with animal sounds. She recorded roughly 30 short lines in nine and a half hours for less than $400, then voiced Boushh in Return of the Jedi the following year.

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