Legendary voice actor,James Carter Cathcart,most known for voicing variousPokémoncharacters including Professor Oak, has died. According to Deadline, Cathcart died of throat cancer on July 8 in New York City. He was 71. The actor’s death was announced by his wife, Martha Jacobi, in a post on Facebook. In it, she thanked fans for supporting her husband throughout his career. It reads,
“Thanks to all of Jimmy’s fans over the years! Giving you joy was why he worked so hard on his craft. Please know how much he appreciated you!”
James' voice could also be heard in the 2003 television seriesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,inwhich he voiced Raz in two episodes and Sleeg in one. These roles were credited under a different name, Jimmy Zoppi, which the actor used.
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Cathcart’s IMDb profile is filled with hundreds of voice credits, withPokémonshowing up consistently throughout the years as you scroll through the list. He started voicing characters in the franchise in 1997 forPokémon: Indigo League, often becoming the voice behind Meowth, Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket member James, and more. From 1997 to 2023, the actor could be heard in 716 episodes, while also working on its films, includingPokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back(1998),Pokémon: Pikachu’s Vacation(1998), and more. HisPokémonco-star, Erica Schroeder, wrote a heartfelt Instagram post honoring him.
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Rest in peace dear sweet man. I will miss you. 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 you were one of a kind, a gentle, beautiful, playful genius and I was happy to call you my friend. Master of the pen, piano and microphone. Friend to many. Loving father and husband. Thank you for your gifts.
Television voice roles aren’t his only credits. James' voice can also be heard in the world of video games, includingSpace Travelers: The Animationas Black Cat,Shadow Heartsas Roger Bacon,Ape Escape 2as Yellow Monkey, and more. Other projects includedImpy’s Island,The Three Musketeers, Little Bird’s Big Adventure, Mashed, Sonic X, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Masters, One PieceandAria: The Animation.Cathcart retired in 2023 after his throat cancer diagnosis. Before the world knew himas a Pokémonlegend, Cathcart was in a rock band called The Laughing Dogs and was signed to Columbia Records. The group released two albums and James was a triple threat, contributing on guitar, keyboards, and providing vocals.
Cathcart’s Popular Pokémon Character Meowth
Catchcart, born in New York City, replaced the original Meowth voice actor in thePokémontelevision seriesin 2006 and voiced the character until his retirement. The character is a white cat with a gold coin in the center of its head. It is apparently based on a Japanese good luck charm called manekineko. In the series, Meowth is an antagonist and is a part of Team Rocket. It appears heavily throughout the animated franchise, including inPokémon Go,thePokémon Trading Card Game,and various merchandise.
Source:Deadline
