'Pokémon' voice actor James Carter Cathcart passes away at 71

Pokémon actor James Carter Cathcart lost his fight with cancer at age 71 on Tuesday, July 8, at the Calvary Hospital, New York City.

His wife, Martha Jaccobi announced the heartbreaking news on Facebook fan club page dedicated for James Carter Cathcart fans.

Cathcart was known for playing voice characters in the English-language dubs of multiple Pokémon projects. He provided voices of James, Meowth and Professor Oak. 

James Carter was battling with advance stage throat cancer for the last two years, and he announced his retirement from acting in 2023.

His co-star Erica Schroeder, who voiced Nurse Joy, Wobbuffet posted a tribute on her Instagram story. 

She wrote, “The community will miss you. The world will miss you. One of the most joyful, exuberant, kind-hearted and talented souls no longer walks with us."

James Carter Cathcart career at a glance

James Carter Cathcart was born in New Jersey in 1954, began his career as a Laughing Dogs, a rock band and the band released two albums with Columbia Records.

The actor voiced Cap’n O.G. readmore, the cartoon cat who promoted childhood literacy and was originally voiced by Frank Welker in the 1980s.

Cathcart was primarily known for his prolific contributions to the English versions of the numerous Pokémon projects, first playing Fergus in 1998’s Pokémon.

Cathcart had worked in more than 30 Pokémon projects, several of which list him as a script adaptor, according to IMDb.

The actor also voiced Vector the Crocodile in several Sonic The Hedgehog projects and played Weevil Underwood in a few Yu-Gi-Oh- titles.

His other screen credits include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, One Piece, Mission Odyssey, Funky Cops, and Ape Escape 2, interestingly Cathcart also released a solo album, I Was Missing You, in 2009.

RIP James Carter Cathcart: Anime fans bid farewell to a legendary voice actor whose iconic voice brought laughter and joy to countless lives.

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