Lawrence Tanter family: All about announcer's parents and son Miles as longtime Lakers announcer dies at 76

Lawrence Tanter, the longtime public address announcer known as the “Voice of the Lakers”, has died at 76. The Los Angeles Lakers announced his death in a social media post.

“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the team said. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena.” The Lakers added that Tanter would be remembered as a cherished member of the franchise.

Tanter, who had previously retired as the public address announcer back in June, ended his 43-season run, NBA said. The Lakers had committed that he was going to work with the team as a special advisor for game presentation.

Lawrence Tanter’s family

Tanter largely kept his personal life private, and little is publicly known about his family. There is no publicly available record confirming that he was married or had a wife. However, a 2011 Los Angeles Times report indicated that he had a son, Miles.

Details about his parents are also limited. Tanter, who grew up in Chicago, credited his father with introducing him to basketball. According to WBUR, his father took him to watch the Harlem Globetrotters in Chicago in the 1950s, when a young Wilt Chamberlain was part of the team. Tanter later described the experience as an “indelible” memory.

Tanter also spoke about his family’s musical background. He said his uncle had played jazz with legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker, while his sister sang with the Floyd Campbell Orchestra. His parents’ occupations are not publicly known.

After 43 seasons, Tanter retired as the Lakers’ public address announcer in June but continued with the franchise as a special adviser for game presentation.

“Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice,” Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said following his retirement, according to CBS News.

Lawrence Tanter cause of death update

The exact cause of death for Lawrence Tanter remains unknown as Lakers did not mention the reason in the social media statement. However, a report by ESPN mentions that Tanter had suffered a stroke in March 2026 and missed the Lakers' final six home games of the regular season and the playoffs.

The announcer began working for the Lakers in 1982 and had announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 season. However, he had decided to stick around the team as an adviser on the Lakers' game presentation.