Pokémon lost two truly unforgettable voices in back-to-back years 🙏
Many fans may not realize how much Rachael Lillis and James Carter Cathcart helped shape the sound of the Pokémon anime, from the early Kanto adventures to some of Team Rocket’s most recognizable moments.
• Rachael Lillis was the original English voice behind Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff, helping define Pokémon’s earliest years for fans. Misty became one of Ash’s first traveling companions, Jessie brought Team Rocket’s dramatic comedy to life, and Jigglypuff became one of the franchise’s most memorable recurring Pokémon. She passed away on August 10, 2024.
• James Carter Cathcart, also known as Jimmy Zoppi, was known for voicing Gary Oak, Professor Oak, Team Rocket’s James, and Meowth in the English dub. Beyond his voice roles, he also worked as a script adaptor across hundreds of Pokémon episodes, helping shape the tone and humor of the English version. He passed away on July 8, 2025.
A heartbreaking detail: James passed away on July 8, the same date as Rachael Lillis’s birthday.
Their work became part of Pokémon history, from rivals and companions to villains, jokes, emotional moments, and childhood memories that fans still revisit today.
Thank you for the laughter, the memories, and the characters that still live on through every rewatch.
Rest in peace 🕊️
Remembering a true legend 🕊️
Philece Sampler was a television and voice actress whose work became part of multiple generations of anime, animation, and game fans.
From the warmth of Mimi Tachikawa in Digimon to the wisdom of older Toph Beifong in The Legend of Korra, her voice carried emotion, humor, strength, and personality across so many unforgettable characters.
Some of her memorable voice roles include:
• Mimi Tachikawa — Digimon Adventure
• Misao Makimachi — Rurouni Kenshin
• Older Toph Beifong — The Legend of Korra
• Son Goten — Dragon Ball Super
• Gotenks — Dragon Ball Super
• Suzie Q Joestar — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
• Koromon — Digimon Adventure
• Taokaka — BlazBlue: Alter Memory
• Rokuta Kamado — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
• Betty Ross — The Incredible Hulk
Sampler passed away on July 1, 2021, at 67 years old, but her legacy continues through the characters fans still remember, quote, rewatch, and love today.
Rest in peace, Philece Sampler 🕯️
Remembering a true legend 🕊️
Many fans first knew Rachael Lillis through Pokémon, but long before they recognized her name in the credits, they already knew her voice. As the original English voice of Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff, she became part of the sound of childhood for millions of anime fans around the world.
• Misty — Pokémon
• Jessie — Pokémon
• Jigglypuff — Pokémon / Super Smash Bros.
• Utena Tenjou — Revolutionary Girl Utena
• Princess Charlotte — Berserk
• Mito Freecss — Hunter x Hunter
• Cocco — Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission
• Ryoko Miyazono — Your Lie in April
• Sella — Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
• Headmistress Faragonda — Winx Club
• Hela Nemo — Cubix
• Tomoe Ame — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Dr. Reese Drake / Ursula / Laura — Dinosaur King
and many more!
Lillis built a career around emotional range, comedy, warmth, and unforgettable character work.
She passed away on August 10, 2024, at the age of 55, after battling breast cancer. Her legacy continues every time fans revisit the voices, scenes, and characters she helped bring to life.
Rest in peace, Rachael Lillis 🙏
We just lost another legend today 😔
Figueira Júnior has passed away on June 27, 2026, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
For many fans, his voice became inseparable from Android 17 in Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super. He was also remembered for voicing Philip J. Fry in Futurama, a role that showed his range beyond anime and made him part of another beloved animated classic.
Known works include:
Dragon Ball Z — Android 17
Futurama — Philip J. Fry
Getbackers — Kazuki Fuchouin
Fullmetal Alchemist — Kain Fuery
Futurama — Fry
Batman — Robin
Rave — Shadow Master
Get Backers — Kazuki
and many more!
Behind every iconic character is a performer who gives them life, attitude, humor, and emotion. Figueira Júnior’s work helped make Android 17 unforgettable to generations of fans who grew up watching Dragon Ball.
We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, fans, and the dubbing community in Brazil.
May he rest in peace 🕊️
🚨LUTO
É com profundo pesar que recebemos a notícia do falecimento de Figueira Júnior, dublador que eternizou a voz do Androide 17 em Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT e Dragon Ball Super.
Expressamos nossos mais sinceros sentimentos aos familiares, amigos, colegas de profissão e a toda a comunidade da dublagem brasileira.
Descanse em paz.