History Main / ScratchyVoicedSenior

* By ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', Solid Snake speaks with a very deep, gravely voice. Decades of cigarette smoking certainly didn't help.

In written works, this could be described as the person's voice "cracking with age". It's also common to have a character imply that another character is old by talking to them in a scratchy voice. These old people don't usually have an actual sore throat, but a few of them do, and may be heard coughing, perhaps turning into an IncurableCoughOfDeath if they then die. They may also drink water a lot to soothe their sore throats. Sometimes justified by having them be a smoker or former smoker. See also TomboyishVoice, GutturalGrowler, and EvilSoundsDeep for other stereotypes about voices. If the elderly person is a villain, it overlaps with EvilSoundsRaspy. See also GutturalGrowler which has some overlap. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] an old person sounding like a [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons much-abused cartoon cat]].

Old people in fiction always seem to talk the same way: with a scratchy, sometimes slow and/or quiet, either very high or very deep, voice, as though they always have laryngitis. There is a grain of TruthInTelevision to this: when we get old, there's a ''chance'' of our vocal chords wearing down, which leads to a ''chance'' of our voices sounding scratchy, but it's not as common (or exaggerated) as fiction makes it out to be.

* One of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' movies has a scene where several people say, "This is it" one by one, the last being a croaky-sounding old man.

In written works, this could be described as the person's voice "cracking with age". It's also common to have a character imply that another character is old by talking to them in a scratchy voice. These old people don't usually have an actual sore throat, but a few of them do, and may be heard coughing, perhaps turning into an IncurableCoughOfDeath if they then die. They may also drink water a lot to soothe their sore throats. Sometimes justified by having them be a smoker or former smoker. See also TomboyishVoice, BadassBaritone, and EvilSoundsDeep for other stereotypes about voices. If the elderly person is a villain, it overlaps with EvilSoundsRaspy. See also GutturalGrowler which has some overlap. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] an old person sounding like a [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons much-abused cartoon cat]].

* ''WesternAnimation/JorelsBrother'': Granny Gigi speaks with a slow, raspy voice, [[VocalEvolution especially in Season 1]]. Justified by the fact that she originally was supposed to always be smoking a cigarette, but since they couldn't show that in a kids' show, her OralFixation was changed to a lollipop instead.

* Grunkle Stan in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' also has a raspy voice.

* Richard Harris gave Professor Albus Dumbledore his scratchy voice in the [[Film/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone first]] [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets two]] ''Film/HarryPotter'' films. After his death, Michael Gambon took over and brought a much deeper and stronger voice to the character.

* In ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'', Igor speaks with a scratchy, high-pitched voice to help portray his whimsy and mysteriousness as the master of the Velvet Room. In fact, he became so well-known for his voice that ''VideoGame/Persona5'' shocked players when his new voice actor gave him a deep, booming one instead. [[spoiler: This is a clue that this Igor is a fake. Once the real Igor returns in the end to assist the heroes, his voice is the same as ever.]]

** Grandpa Simpson has a slightly scratchy voice.

* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona'', Igor speaks with a scratchy, high-pitched voice to help portray his whimsy and mysteriousness as the master of the Velvet Room. In fact, he became so well-known for his voice that ''VideoGame/Persona5'' shocked players when his new voice actor gave him a deep, booming one instead. [[spoiler: This is a clue that this Igor is a fake. Once the real Igor returns in the end to assist the heroes, his voice is the same as ever.]]

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Daria}}'' features Daria, Kevin, and Brittany reading to senior citizens for a school community service week. Brittany is, naturally, a big hit with the elderly ladies, who comment that she has a pretty voice. One even comments that she sounds just like another senior did when she was young, to which the senior in question croaks outs, "I always did have a ''lovely'' voice!"
* Grunkle Stan in ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' also has a raspy voice.

** Marge, Patty, and Selma's mother Jacqueline has an especially raspy voice.

* Grandpa Boris from ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' sports a pretty scratchy voice, complete with Yiddish accent.

In written works, this could be described as the person's voice "cracking with age". It's also common to have a character imply that another character is old by talking to them in a scratchy voice. These old people don't usually have an actual sore throat, but a few of them do, and may be heard coughing, perhaps turning into an IncurableCoughOfDeath if they then die. They may also drink water a lot to soothe their sore throats. Sometimes justified by having them be a smoker or former smoker. See also TomboyishVoice, BadassBaritone, and EvilSoundsDeep for other stereotypes about voices. If the elderly person is a villain, it overlaps with EvilSoundsRaspy. See also GutturalGrowler which has some overlap.

!! Examples

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[folder: Films- Animated]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'', the old woman who is the widow of background character Albert has a high, croaky voice.
* One of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'' movies has a scene where several people say, "This is it" one by one, the last being a croaky-sounding old man.

[[folder: Films- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/MaryPoppins'', Mr. Dawes is extremely old and he has a throaty voice. He also coughs a lot.

[[folder: Literature]]
* In ''Literature/CharlieAndTheGreatGlassElevator'', when Grandma Georgina is aged to a 300+-year-old woman, her voice becomes extremely croaky.

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Theatre]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Original]]

* In [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gY4flqrvDU this]] so-called LiteralMusicVideo of "Dig a Little Deeper" from ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', Mama Odie speaks in a high, scratchy, "old lady" voice.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[/folder]]

Old people in fiction always seem to talk the same way: with a scratchy, sometimes slow and/or quiet, either very high or very deep, voice, as though they always have laryngitis. There is a grain of TruthInTelevision to this: when we get old, there's a ''chance'' of our vocal chords wearing down, which leads to a ''chance'' of our voices sounding scratchy, but it's not as common as fiction makes it out to be.