The Voice of True Crime: Bill Kurtis on Cold Cases, Chilling Narration, and the One Story He’ll Never Forget
For decades, Bill Kurtis has been the steady, authoritative voice guiding audiences through the darkest corners of unsolved mysteries. As the original host of Cold Case Files, his narration has become synonymous with suspense, weaving together the intricate details of cases that once seemed impossible to crack.
Now, with the true crime genre more popular than ever, Cold Case Files made its much-anticipated return in 2021—bringing Kurtis back to do what he does best.
The Return of Cold Case Files
When asked about stepping back into his role, Kurtis doesn’t hesitate.
“I love it. I am thrilled,” he says. “How many times in life do you get to go around a second time with all the experience you’ve accumulated over 20 years? Since our last episodes, so many new cold cases have emerged—there’s new life for the series.”
The return comes at a time when advancements in DNA technology, especially genealogical DNA tracing, are revolutionizing how old cases are solved. Kurtis is fascinated by the evolution of forensic science, recalling how, in the ‘90s, DNA was just starting to overturn wrongful convictions. Now, it’s unlocking secrets that had been buried for decades.
The Art of a Chilling Narration
What makes a narration truly gripping? According to Kurtis, it’s all about storytelling.
“You have to focus on the story, picture what the viewer is seeing,” he explains. “Voiceover should be a guide, not a distraction. You want the audience to feel like you’re watching along with them, discovering each clue in real time.”
His process is seamless, almost second nature. “The joke goes, ‘How long will it take to record? Let’s see… 35 minutes.’ It’s like riding a bike.”
But his secret weapon? Timing.
“At tense moments, you slow down. You hold the suspense, clue by clue, pivot by pivot, and build toward that breaking point.”
The Cold Case That Still Haunts Him
Out of the countless cases he’s narrated, one still lingers in his mind: the 1991 murder of Doris Ann McLeod, a young runaway whose body was discovered in a Wisconsin wildlife preserve.
“Her fingers had been cut off to prevent identification,” he recalls. “Detectives went to the house where she had last been seen, and the only person there was a 3-year-old boy. They asked him, ‘Do you know where she was?’ He nodded. ‘Where did she sleep?’ He pointed to the basement.”
The detectives followed the boy downstairs. The room was empty. Then they asked, ‘Where exactly did she sleep?’
The boy pointed up—to the ceiling. That’s where her body had been tied.
“The story is natural to tell,” Kurtis says. “But it’s just horrific.”
The Unmistakable Voice of True Crime
His deep, resonant voice is instantly recognizable. Airline agents, phone operators—strangers in unexpected places—stop him mid-sentence, piecing it together.
“I’ll ask for a ticket at an airport counter, and heads will turn down the line,” he laughs. “And they’ll say, ‘Are you that guy from the mystery show?’”
For Bill Kurtis, true crime isn’t just a job—it’s a lifelong passion. Even on vacation, he finds himself drawn into unsolved mysteries. A driver in Maine once offered him two route options: the scenic one or the road leading to a notorious local murder scene.
“We went to the murder scene,” Kurtis says, amused.
Because when you’re the voice of Cold Case Files, the mysteries never stop finding you.
