Pokemon and Sonic the Hedgehog legend James Carter Cathcart has died aged 71.
The beloved voice actor, who was also known as Jimmy Zoopi, was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago, and he died this week.
Cathcart voiced the likes of Professor Oak, Meowth, Gary Oak and Team Rocket’s James in the English dubs of Pokemon.
According to TMZ, he died in hospice care in Forest Hills, New York.
His wife Martha Jacobi confirmed his death in a Facebook fan group on Thursday.
She wrote: ‘For those of you who don’t know me, I am James Carter Cathcart’s wife. JCC died, peacefully, very early in the morning, on Tuesday 7/8/25, at Calvary Hospital, in the Bronx.’
She revealed his funeral will be held ‘in early August’ in New York.
She added: ‘Memorial designations are still in process, pending conversations with one of the charities that was close to Jimmy’s heart. I will post those here when they are in place.’
His first Pokemon role was in 1998’s Pokemon: The First Movie, and he stepped down in 2020 after Pokemon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle.
As well as his Pokemon roles, he also voiced Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and the Shadow the Hedgehog game.
Pokemon and Sonic voice actress Erica Schroeder, who voiced the likes of Nurse Joy and other characters in the hit franchise, hailed him as a ‘gentle, beautiful, playful genius’.
She wrote in a touching Instagram tribute: ‘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.’
Cathcart also provided voices for anime shows including Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, and Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, and also released music as both The Laughing Dogs and the Carter Cathcart Band.
Former Led Zeppelin drummer Leesa Harrington-Squyres wrote on Facebook: ‘He put up a fierce battle with that horrible C word. What an AMAZING musician and voice actor… the voice of Meoweth and Jake on Pokemon (also wrote the scripts!).
‘He was one of the first people I got to know when moving up here. My heart goes out to his children and his friends. He will be missed. (sic)’
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