Lorenzo Music

The original, definitive voice of Garfield from the 1980s through 2001.

Gerald David "Lorenzo" Music (May 2, 1937 – August 4, 2001) was an American actor, composer, musician, writer, and producer who gained immense fame in the 1980s for voicing Jim Davis's comic strip character Garfield. He portrayed the unseen but often heard Carlton the Doorman on Rhoda before landing his defining role as the fat, lazy, sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat. Music served as the voice of Garfield across twelve animated specials, an animated series, video games, and commercials until his death in 2001. His nostalgic, drawling performance became so iconic that later actors imitated his style after he passed away.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Gerald David Music

Born

2 May 1937

Birthplace

New York City, U.S.

Died

4 August 2001

Place of death

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Other names

L. Music

Education

University of Minnesota Duluth

Occupation

Actor
performer
writer
producer

Lore & Background

Jim Davis's Garfield was the most popular comic strip in America since Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts by the 1980s, prompting a move into animation. The producers sought a voice for the titular character and auditioned several famed vocal talents, including Sterling Holloway. After just one audition, Music was immediately cast. Davis recalled looking at the room full of actors before spotting "Lorenzo, quietly licking himself" in the corner.

Music established the character's unique identity with a sleepy, husky voice that matched the cat's personality perfectly. Before Garfield, Music had already made his voice recognizable to a worldwide television audience as Carlton the Doorman on Rhoda. Although he had no initial interest in acting, producers loved his specific vocal tone and offered him the role of this comically unseen character. The role was so popular it spawned a one-off single in 1975 called "Who Is It?" which became a regional hit, followed by a nominated animated special titled Carlton Your Doorman in 1980.

Reader's Guide

To understand Music's impact, one must look at his casting history and range. He began his career in the 1960s with his wife Henrietta as the comedy duo "Gerald and His Hen," performing for eight years including a USO show in Japan. He then became a writer and regular performer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour from 1967 to 1969, winning an Emmy Award for writing. His voice work extended far beyond animation. He voiced Larry the Crash Test Dummy for U.S. Department of Transportation public safety announcements and appeared in Florida grapefruit juice commercials animated by Jim Jinkins. In keeping with his beliefs in Subud, he frequently volunteered on a suicide hotline, where callers sometimes recognized his voice from TV, exclaiming, "Hey, you sound just like that cat on TV!" His body was cremated after his death at age 64, and his ashes were scattered at sea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lorenzo Music?

Lorenzo Music was an American actor and musician born in 1937 who became famous for providing the original, definitive voice of Garfield. He portrayed the sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat in twelve animated specials, a television series, video games, and commercials from the 1980s until his death.

Did Lorenzo Music do anything besides voicing Garfield?

Yes, before landing his defining role as the cat, he was a versatile entertainer who voiced Carlton the Doorman on the sitcom Rhoda. He also worked as a composer, writer, and producer throughout his career in the entertainment industry.