James Carter Cathcart, Beloved Pokémon Voice Actor, Dies at 71

James Carter Cathcart gave a voice to a world so many kids and grown-ups love. If you ever watched Pokémon, chances are you heard him without even realizing it. He slipped into so many roles that his voice became part of our memories.

Cathcart’s work stretched over two decades. He didn’t just play one character. He was Professor Oak, the wise old man who always had advice for Ash. He was Gary Oak too, the cocky grandson who pushed Ash to be better. And of course, he was James from Team Rocket. That voice alone made so many lines stick. Then there’s Meowth — the cat who could talk back. Who else could make a Pokémon so sassy and sharp?

How Did James Get Into Pokémon?

James jumped into the Pokémon world in 1998. That was the year Pikachu took over everything. Cards, games, TV. Kids traded lunch money for booster packs. While Pokémon kept changing, Cathcart’s voice stayed. He was there through over a thousand episodes and movies. That’s rare in animation. Most actors swap out. Not him. Fans always felt they knew that voice.

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Beyond Pokémon, he showed up in shows like “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and “One Piece.” He did games too. Shadow the Hedgehog has his stamp on it. He did so much but always circled back to Pokémon. He once said he’d do it forever if he could. That love shows.

What Did Fans And Friends Say?

When news of his passing spread, other voice actors spoke up. Erica Schroeder, another Pokémon voice, wrote that the whole community would miss him. That says a lot. These actors often spend hours alone in booths. But they build a family through the shows they make.

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Cathcart stepped away in 2023 after he found out about his cancer. He had throat cancer. For someone whose gift was his voice, that must have been tough. But he stayed grateful. In 2017, he said he was amazed Pokémon was still alive and new kids were discovering it every year. He never seemed to take it for granted.

James was born in West Long Branch, New Jersey. He went to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. That school shaped a lot of artists. He leaves behind his wife Martha Jacobi, two daughters and a son. For fans, he leaves voices that never really fade. He made Pokémon speak in a way nobody else could. And those words are still playing in living rooms, on phones and in memories everywhere.