Steven Zirnkilton

Steve Zirnkilton (born Stephen Morgan Zirnkilton; August 18, 1958) is an American voice actor and former politician from Maine. Zirnkilton is best known for providing the opening narration of all U.S. series in the Law & Order franchise.[6][7]

Steven Zirnkilton
Member of the
Maine House of Representatives
from the 124th District
In office
December 2, 1992 – December 7, 1994
Preceded byJohn H. Carroll[1]
Succeeded byRobert E. Stanwood[2]
In office
December 5, 1984 – December 7, 1988
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byJohn H. Carroll[3]
Member of the
Maine House of Representatives
from the 43rd District
In office
December 1, 1982 – December 5, 1988
Preceded byMeredith E. Bordeaux[4]
Succeeded byJohn H. Carroll[5]
Personal details
Born
Stephen Morgan Zirnkilton

(1958-08-18) August 18, 1958
York, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Stephanie Zirnkilton
Children2
EducationNew England College (BA)
Occupation
Known forNarrator of Law & Order franchise
Websitezirnkilton.com

Early life and education

Zirnkilton grew up in York, Pennsylvania and spent summers in Maine. He graduated from New England College and began working for radio station WDEA in Ellsworth, Maine upon graduation.[8] He later settled in Seal Harbor, Maine.[9] Zirnkilton received a Legislative Sentiment for his work from Maine State Representative Chris Greeley.

Career

Politics

Zirnkilton, a Maine Republican, served for eight years (four terms) in the Maine House of Representatives from 1982 to 1988 and again from 1992 to 1994.[10] He represented part of Hancock County, Maine, including his residence in the village of Seal Harbor in the town Mount Desert. During his final term in the House of Representatives, Zirnkilton served in leadership as Assistant Minority Leader. In 1994, when then Congresswoman Olympia Snowe decided not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Maine's 2nd congressional district, Zirnkilton sought to replace her. Zirnkilton lost the primary to fellow State Representative Richard A. Bennett, who eventually lost the general election to State Senator John Baldacci.[11]

Zirnkilton also provides voice overs for political ads, notably during Susan Collins's re-election campaign in 2014.

Acting

Zirnkilton is known for providing the opening narration of all US shows in the Law & Order franchise.[6] He was hired by series creator Dick Wolf. Zirnkilton has also provided voices for Family Guy and The Rugrats Movie. He was a narrator for Faith Rewarded: The Historic Season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox.[12][13] Zirnkilton narrated Ruby Ridge: Anatomy of a Tragedy on Investigation Discovery.[14][15] He also provided the voice-over for a Sky One advertisement for the channel's Law & Order airings. Zirnkilton was the narrator for TLC's Code Blue: New Orleans and the syndicated series Arrest & Trial. He has been the announcer for the Kennedy Center Honors, and for the past seventeen years he has been the onstage announcer for the Top Cops Awards in Washington, D.C..

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1998 The Rugrats Movie Reporter
2004 Law & Order: The First 3 Years Opening Narrator DVD bonus feature
Faith Rewarded: The Historic Season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox Narrator Documentary
Ruby Ridge Narrator Documentary
2008 The Stag Hunt Narrator Short
2013 Summer Colony Narrator Short
2015 Toy Soldier Voice
2016 Too Cold to Swim Motel Clerk

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1990–2010 Law & Order Narrator Contract role
1997 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man Opening narrator Episode: "Das Sub"
1999–present Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Opening Announcer Contract role
2000–2001 Arrest & Trial Narrator TV Series documentary / nontraditional court show
2000–2002 Code Blue: New Orleans Narrator TV Series documentary
2001–2011 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Opening announcer Contract role
2002–2004 Crime & Punishment Narrator TV Series documentary / nontraditional court show
2003 Dragnet Narrator Episode: "The Silver Slayer"
2004 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Voice Episode: "Episode #12.209"
2005 Family Guy Himself Episode: "Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High"
2005–2006 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Opening announcer Contract role
2010–2011 Law & Order: Los Angeles Narrator Contract role
2017 Inside the FBI: New York Narrator Documentary series; 6 episodes

References
  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20191110171623/http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LegRec/115/House/LegRec_1990-12-05_HP_pH0001-0041.pdf
  2. http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LegRec/117/House/LegRec_1994-12-07_HP_pH0001-0037.pdf
  3. http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LegRec/114/House/LegRec_1988-12-07_HP_p0001-0023.pdf
  4. http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LegRec/110/House/LegRec_1980-12-03_HP_p0001-0007.pdf
  5. http://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/LegRec/112/House/LegRec_1984-12-05_HP_p0001-0019.pdf
  6. "'Law & Order' reunion salutes 20th season". Today. Associated Press. September 23, 2009. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  7. "Ask the Editors". TV Guide. April 19, 2010. p. 6.
  8. Morton, Spencer (February 2, 2009). "Steve Zirnkilton: The man behind the voice". The Maine Campus. University of Maine. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  9. "Biography". Steve Zirnkilton Voiceovers. Retrieved December 11, 2007.
  10. Hale, John (June 11, 1987). "Seal lovers attempt to harpoon whale bill". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, ME: Bangor Publishing Company. p. 1. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  11. Quinn, Francis X. (June 7, 2002). "Crowded 2nd District contests reminiscent of battles in 1994 Regional strength led the way to victory in contested primary races". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  12. O'Neill, Bill (March 28, 2005). "Rave of the Week: "Idiots on film"". Cape Cod Times. Hyannis, MA: Dow Jones Local Media Group. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  13. "Faith Rewarded: The Historic Season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox". New England Sports Network. Fenway Sports Group and Delaware North. ASIN B005Y1C3TQ. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  14. Sparked Media. "Ruby Ridge: Anatomy of a Tragedy". Vimeo. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  15. Heffernan, Virginia. "Weaver's Last Stand". Slate. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
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