It’s a sad day in the world of Pokémon, anime, and Saturday morning nostalgia. The legendary voice actor James Carter Cathcart has passed away at 71, following complications from oral cancer.
Cathcart wasn’t just in Pokémon — for many of us, he was Pokémon. Across more than 700 episodes and over 25 years, he gave life to some of the franchise’s most beloved characters: Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket’s James, and, of course, the unforgettable little sass-gremlin that is Meowth.
He officially retired from voice acting in 2023 following his diagnosis, closing the book on a career that helped shape the childhoods (and emotional development, tbh) of an entire generation.
“A gentle, beautiful, playful genius”
Fellow Pokémon voice actor Erica Schroeder (Nurse Joy, Wobbuffet and more) shared a moving 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.”
It’s the kind of tribute that hits especially hard, because it feels exactly like the energy Cathcart brought to his work. Joyful. Kind. Playful. And deeply, unapologetically creative.
More than just voices
While he’s best known for his work in Pokémon — including voicing his characters in over 15 movies and writing the English dub scripts for 17 years — Cathcart’s influence runs much deeper.
He played Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X, voiced Weevil Underwood and Lumis in Yu-Gi-Oh!, and popped up in One Piece, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Slayers, Aria, Mission Odyssey — honestly, we could keep listing, but you get it. He was everywhere.
He also lent his voice to ads for brands like Kit Kat, Good Humor, and Coors Light. If you grew up in the ’90s or early 2000s, chances are you heard him without even realising.
A musician at heart
Outside the booth, Cathcart was a virtuoso pianist with serious musical chops — fluent in classical, jazz, rock, and pop. He performed with Dave Brubeck, The Monkees, Blondie, and was a regular at CBGB with his band The Laughing Dogs.
TL;DR
- James Carter Cathcart, voice of Pokémon icons like Meowth, James, Professor Oak, and Gary, has died aged 71
- He voiced in over 700 episodes and more than 15 Pokémon movies
- Cathcart also wrote the dub scripts for the series for 17 years
- He voiced characters in Sonic X, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Kirby, and more
- A talented pianist and live performer, he played with major acts and was active in the NYC music scene
- Beloved by friends, family, fans, and fellow castmates for his creativity, kindness, and joyful spirit
For so many of us, Cathcart’s voice was a constant — the sound of after-school TV, the comfort of familiar chaos, the comic relief we didn’t know we needed. His work helped shape stories that still mean the world to us.
Rest easy, James. You blasted off for the last time — but your legacy lives on, louder than a Team Rocket motto and sweeter than a Kanto sunset.
Stay unruly, forever.
