'Pokemon' voice actor Rachael Lillis dies of cancer at 46
Rachael Lillis, a renowned voice actor best known for her roles in the Pokémon animated series, has died at the age of 46. Lillis, who lent her voice to iconic characters such as Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff in the Pokémon series and films, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May and passed away on Saturday, August 10. Her death was announced by her Pokémon co-star Veronica Taylor.
Co-star Taylor announced Lillis's death
Taylor, who voiced the lead character Ash Ketchum in the English dubbing of Pokémon, shared the news of Lillis's death on social media. In her post, Taylor expressed her grief over Lillis's passing and praised her for her extraordinary talent. "Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing," Taylor wrote. She also acknowledged Lillis's iconic performances as Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, describing them as "the most beloved."
Lillis's sister confirmed death on GoFundMe page
Lillis's sister, Laurie Orr, confirmed the voice actor's death on a GoFundMe page that was set up to help cover her medical expenses. The page had raised $1,00,316 at the time of writing. She expressed gratitude that Lillis had passed away peacefully and without pain. The collected amount will go toward covering the outstanding bills, a memorial service, and cancer research, Orr added.
Lillis's career in voice acting
Born in New York in 1978, Lillis initially trained as an opera singer before transitioning to voice acting in the 1990s. She lent her voice to hundreds of TV shows, films, and games throughout her career. In 1998, she began voicing Misty, a gym leader specializing in water-type creatures, in the English dub of the Pokémon anime. In addition to Misty, Lillis also voiced Jessie of Team Rocket and several Pokémon creatures including Jigglypuff, Vulpix, Venonat, and Goldeen.
The Pokémon Company International expressed condolences
The Pokémon Company International expressed their condolences in a statement on Tuesday. "We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Rachael Lillis," the statement read. "Her performance in the Pokémon animated series will be cherished by the many fans who grew up with the characters she brought to life with her special talent."
