The Pokemon Company Breaks Silence on the Passing of Long-Serving Beloved Voice Actor

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Two weeks have elapsed since the demise of James Carter Cathcart, a versatile figure who donned multiple hats as an English dub voice actor, scriptwriter, and musician. He was particularly renowned for his long-standing role in the original Pokémon anime series, where he voiced Gary Oak in its debut episode and continued with the show throughout its entirety. Despite the contentious recasting in 2006, Cathcart remained a constant presence, eventually taking over the roles of James and Meowth from Eric Stuart and Maddie Blastein for Team Rocket. Cathcart’s involvement extended to the very end of the franchise, as he voiced James in Ash Ketchum’s final episodes.

After the broadcast of the final episode of Pokémon, he announced his retirement from acting due to his battle with throat cancer. Tragically, he passed away from cancer at the age of 71 in July 2025. On the day of his passing, his colleagues, friends, and fans offered their condolences. However, The Pokémon Company remained silent until July 24th. On their official account (originally Twitter), they shared a video showcasing Cathcart’s performances across the franchise. They also expressed their gratitude for Cathcart’s significant contributions to the series, including his work on over 700 scripts.

James Carter Cathcart Was Important to Pokémon

We’re profoundly sorrowful about the demise of James Carter Cathcart, the man behind the voices of Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket members like James and Meowth, as well as numerous other beloved characters in the Pokémon animated series for several years. Besides his voiceover roles, he contributed to approximately 700 episodes…

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) July 24, 2025

In 2023, Cathcart announced his cancer diagnosis publicly. From all over the internet, well wishes poured in from fans and friends for him, along with warm sentiments for a peaceful retirement. Known as one of the original Pokémon voice actors who’s remained on the show since its beginning, he was greatly admired within the anime dubbing community, particularly by Pokémon enthusiasts. Apart from his voice acting talents, Cathcart was also a gifted musician with exceptional skills in playing the piano. Fourteen days have passed since his passing, yet his absence continues to be deeply felt among fans and the dubbing world.

Maddie Blaustein, the original voice actor for Meowth, and Rachael Lillis, who voiced both Misty and Jessie, are among the English voice actors of Pokémon who have passed away. Sadly, Blaustein died in 2008, a few years after Cathcart took over as Meowth’s voice in 2006. Lillis passed away in 2024, an event that was widely mourned on social media due to her impact on many generations of fans. Despite not voicing her most famous characters for almost two decades at the time of her death, The Pokémon Company expressed their condolences. Fortunately, other original voice actors like Veronica Taylor (Ash), Eric Stuart (Brock and James), and Ted Lewis (James in early episodes) are still alive as of this writing. Interestingly, Lewis, who was replaced along with the rest of the cast in 2006, made a surprise comeback in the final episode to reprise his role as Tracey Sketchit.

Our sympathies continue to be extended to the loved ones of James Carter Cathcart, as well as the other Pokémon voice actors who passed away prematurely, during this difficult time.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/pokemon-journeys-gary-oak-return-ash-goh-burn/embed/#

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2025-07-25 01:39