Pokémon voice actor Rachael Lillis dies at 46

Pokémon voice actor Rachael Lillis dies at 46

As a child of the ’90s, Rachael Lillis was more than just a voice actor to me; she was a part of my childhood, a companion who accompanied me through countless Saturday mornings and after-school hours. Her distinctive voice, brimming with charm and humor, brought Misty, Jessie, and a host of Pokémon to life in ways that left an indelible mark on my heart.


On the sad day of this past weekend, I found myself grappling with the news that Rachael Lillis, the voice behind my beloved Pokémon characters, has left us. Her sister, Laurie Orr, shared the heartbreaking update on GoFundMe. Laurie shared that Rachael passed away peacefully, free from pain, and she was 46 years old.

In May, Orr announced that Lillis had been undergoing cancer treatment for quite some time, and she’d been residing in a care facility in Los Angeles since January due to the cancer spreading to her spine. A GoFundMe campaign page collected close to $100,000 to aid Lillis following her breast cancer diagnosis.

Veronica Taylor, the voice behind Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum, paid homage to Lillis on social platforms, describing her as an exceptionally gifted artist whose voice radiated brilliance, whether she was speaking or performing.

As a devoted fan, let me share that I’ve always admired Rachel Lillis for the captivating roles she embodied. Her voice, laced with charm, would light up our Saturday mornings and provide a comforting presence during before and after school hours. Her impeccable comic timing and exceptional acting skills never failed to delight us!

You’re likely familiar with Rachel Lillis, who graced us with numerous captivating performances. Her enchanting voice, hilarious wit, and exceptional acting talent made our Saturday mornings and pre-/post-school hours a delight. #RachaelLillis

— Veronica Taylor (@TheVeronicaT) August 12, 2024

Starting in 1998, Lillis took on the role of voicing various characters in the Pokémon series, including Ketchum’s adventure partner Misty, Team Rocket’s Jessie, and multiple Pokémon such as Jigglypuff. She was also featured in the anime adaptations, movies like “Pokémon: The First Movie” and “Pokémon: Mewtwo Returns,” as well as “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” Lillis has lent her voice to numerous other shows and films too, including “Berserk,” “Hunter x Hunter,” “Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

Expressing it in a different way: It’s more than just saying that her voice was adored; it was almost not enough. Much like Misty and Jessie, she shared the screen with Taylor to bring unforgettable characters to English audiences. Since her passing, fans and fellow voice artists have been expressing their tributes. Eric Stuart, who voices Brock and James in Pokémon, stated that Lillis was “one of the most hilarious, considerate, and kind individuals.”

“Stuart wrote, ‘Remember her life by re-watching the original Pokemon, particularly the Team Rocket scenes – she’ll forever be my comic accomplice in mischief.’ Rest In Peace, my friend.”

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2024-08-12 20:19

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