Yes, Bogart-Bacall Syndrome is a real syndrome. Possibly the syndrome with the coolest name ever, but nonetheless….

Bogart-Bacall Syndrome happens when you speak or sing for extended periods of time in a different vocal range than what you are used to. It is most common when you speak or sing with a lower register than normal. It can result in a hoarse voice, which can be treated with voice therapy by a Speech Language Pathologist.

Both Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall had a mild form of this disorder. Lauren Bacall’s natural speaking voice was much higher-pitched.

My voice is naturally this low, by the way. I used to not like my voice (especially when my voice was this low when I was a kid), but now I like it. It also makes for a pretty good singing voice. 🙂

Here’s a blog post from a voiceover artist who was afflicted with Bogart-Bacall Syndrome:

http://blogs.voices.com/voxdaily/2009/07/bogart-bacall_syndrome.html

Check out Bogart and Bacall in “To Have and Have Not”. Hard to believe Bacall was only 19 in this movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etcfnfd1gl8

Here’s Lauren Bacall backstage at the 2010 Oscars. Still gorgeous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLq_nwub7KI

And here’s a short blurb on the disorder from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogart%E2%80%93Bacall_syndrome