HOUSTON – Family and friends of a renowned voice actor are remembering their loved one Sunday night after he died in a tragic skydiving accident in Rosharon.
Officials said 64-year-old Randy Schell was skydiving with a friend at Skydive Spaceland Saturday.
After both jumped and deployed their parachutes normally, officials said the two collided and suffered from the collision and landing. The friend, who police have not identified, was injured.
Schell was killed.
The family said Schell was an experienced diver who had done more than 1,700 dives. Both were licensed skydivers. Schell's family called it a "freak" accident. Officials said weather was not a factor.
PHOTOS: Family remembers Randy Schell
Schell was a voice actor who did voiceover work for many companies including Amdro, Seagate, the U.S. Air Force, HP, Goodyear Aviation and Cox Media Group, according to Schell's website.
"Randy was a true family member of CMG. Randy was our commercial production director so he was really a work machine," said Vice President and Market Manager for Cox Media Group Houston Mark Krieschen. "He produced a lot of local commercials for our advertisers, but he was also a voice for a lot of national sponsors around the country."
Schell has been the promo voice for radio and TV stations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Houston, Denver, Miami, Detroit, New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin, Salt Lake City, Tampa and for the ABC Radio Networks, according to Schell's website.
Some notable projects included spots for AT&T, Coca Cola, GEICO and McDonalds.
"KKBQ and KGLK each reached over a million listeners a week, so it's millions, and Randy's voice was heard throughout the day on all three of our stations: Country Legends, The Eagle and KKBQ," Krieschen said.
Coworkers and friends called him talented, fun-loving, wise and witty.
"We're just numb. We can't believe what happened and coming to work on Monday is going to be tough," Krieschen said.
Family members said Schell was also a black belt martial artist who was meticulous and careful. Schell would have celebrated his 65th birthday in August. They said his legacy will live on.
