Elwood Edwards, the Voice of AOL’s Iconic ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ Passes Away at 74

Elwood Edwards, the voice behind America Online’s iconic “You’ve got mail” notification, passed away at the age of 74. His daughter, Heather Edwards, shared that he died on Tuesday at their family home in New Bern, North Carolina, due to complications from a stroke he suffered late last year.

In 1989, while sitting in his living room, Edwards recorded the now-famous greeting for AOL. Little did he know that “You’ve got mail” would transition into a cultural phenomenon in the late 1990s, even inspiring the title of the beloved 1998 film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Edwards recorded additional phrases for AOL, including “Welcome,” “Goodbye,” and “File’s done.” Interestingly, he earned only $200 for these recordings. He landed this unique role thanks to his second wife, Karen, who was a customer service representative at AOL and recommended him when the company sought a voice for their software.

His daughter fondly reminisced, saying, “He would still blush any time someone mentioned it. He enjoyed the attention, but it was something he never fully got accustomed to.” Despite the fact that many people didn’t know his face, his voice reached millions of ears every day.

In a reflection on his journey, Edwards said, “For a while, America Online was keeping it a secret, making me a man of mystery. But eventually, it came out, and there you have it.” He made a memorable appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in 2015, where he repeated his famous line to a cheering audience. Additionally, he lent his voice to an episode of “The Simpsons” in 2000.

Edwards started his career in radio, later transitioning to television where he briefly served as a weatherman and hosted announcing roles. Initially, he was mainly behind the camera, which he humorously noted by saying, “I have a face for radio,” his daughter added that he was always known for his warm smile.

He went on to work at WKYC-TV in Cleveland, where he was involved in various roles including graphics specialist, camera operator, and other technical duties. Beyond his work at the station, Edwards freelanced as a voice-over artist for radio and TV commercials.

He is survived by another daughter, Sallie Edwards; granddaughter Abbie Edwards; and his brother, Bill. The family plans to hold a memorial service in New Bern on Monday to honor his life and the impact of his voice on so many.