The passing of beloved “Pokémon” voice actor, Jame Carter Cathcart, primarily known for lending his voice acting talents to the role of Team Rocket member James in the globally celebrated animated series, was confirmed by his wife, Martha Jacobi, on July 8th.
In the days since, fans across the globe have published memorials in the late star’s honor, remembering his iconic “Pokémon” role as a key facet of their childhoods.
‘Pokémon’ Cast Remember Cathcart as a ‘Gentle, Beautiful, Playful Genius’
Cathcart, who began his voice-acting career on the “ABC Weekend Special” anthology series, became the voice of a generation when he signed on to “Pokémon” in 1997. During his time on the series, Cathcart lent his voice to several of its legendary characters, including Professor Oak, Gary Oak, and two-thirds of the villainous Team Rocket, voicing the roles of both James and Meowth.
According to Variety, the late voice actor, 71 at the time of his passing, recorded more than 700 episodes and 15 films during his tenure on “Pokémon.” Cathcart, also known as Jimmy Zoppi, similarly appeared on major animated series like “Sonic the Hedgehog,” “Yu-Gi-Oh,” “One Piece” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” In 2023, however, Cathcart announced that he was retiring from voice acting after being diagnosed with throat cancer.
Despite lending his voice to other franchises over the course of his career, Cathcart’s contribution to “Pokémon,” the highest-grossing media franchise in the world, will always be his most significant.
“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,” wrote Erica Schroeder, the original voice actress for “Pokémon’s” Nurse Joy, in a memorial statement on Instagram. “James Carter Cathcart you were one of a kind, a gentle, beautiful, playful genius and I was happy to call you my friend.”
Fans Remember the Legacy of Team Rocket’s Late Voice Actors
Online, fans mourned Cathcart alongside fellow “Pokémon” voice actor, Rachel Lillis. Lillis, who passed away in 2024, lent her voice to the role of Jessie, James’ Team Rocket partner-in-crime.
“Rest in peace Team Rocket,” wrote one fan on Instagram.”Thank you for bringing the humours to our childhood. Prepare for trouble, and make it double. Now you can protect our world from devastation from there.”
“Even though they were villains, their voices made Team Rocket relatable…They showed that despite failure you have to keep trying. Reevaluate and try again,” added another. “Thank you for your voices and an important lesson.”
Based on the best-selling Nintendo games of the same name, “Pokémon” began as a Japanese anime series in 1997 before airing its first-run syndication in the U.S. in 1997. Since then the animated children’s series has celebrated 27 seasons across networks like Kids’ WB, Cartoon Network and Disney XD. Today, new episodes of “Pokémon” continue to air on Netflix, though the character of James was written out of the series during its 2024 overhaul.
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Tributes Pour in for Beloved ‘Pokémon’ Voice Actor After Passing