James Carter Cathcart, the original voice actor for Professor Oak and Gary Oak in the English adaptation of thePokemonseries, has announced that he will be stepping down from the role after 25 years due to his cancer diagnosis. He has been a part of the show since its first episode till thefinal goodbye of Team Rocket, making his departure a significant loss for the anime’s fans.
Cathcart is a prominent figure in thePokemoncommunity, having voiced several characters in the English adaptation of the anime, including Meowth, thePokemonwho could talk, and James from Team Rocket. He is also highly regarded by fans of theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise for his portrayals of Vector the Crocodile in the video gameSonic X.
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The news of Cathcart’s departure fromPokemoncame from CaringBridge, a platform for families to update loved ones on their medical conditions. In a post published in January, Cathcart’s wife Martha announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer that had progressed from his tongue to his neck. She revealed that Cathcart was undergoing chemotherapy treatments and that his cancer was curable. However, a subsequent post on April 17 revealed that Cathcart’s tumor had not responded to the initial chemotherapy treatment and that a more aggressive course of chemotherapy, along with radiation therapy, was required. Cathcart’s throat had been “feeling off” for nearly a year before his diagnosis, according to the post.
Due to the difficult medical procedures ahead, Cathcart has decided to formally discontinue his involvement at the end of Season 25 of thePokemondub. “He has decided to retire from script adaptation and voice dubbing forPokemonUSA,” Martha commented. She shared that the family will always be grateful for fans' support, love, kind words, and good wishes. Cathcart’s departure fromPokemonmarks the end of an era, as he has been with the show since its inception and is a popular character among fans. Last year, one fan even made a3D rendering of Professor Oak’s Lab.
The news has been met with an outpouring of support from fans on social media, many of whom have praised Cathcart’s contributions to the series asProfessor Oak. In addition to his work onPokemonandSonic the Hedgehog, Cathcart has lent his voice to several other popular anime franchises, includingOne PieceandYu-Gi-Oh!. He has also voiced several video games, includingFinal Fantasy 7and theKingdom Heartsseries.
Despite his departure fromPokemon, Cathcart’s legacy in the world of voice acting is secure. He has left an indelible mark on the industry and will always be remembered for his many contributions to some of the most beloved franchises. Fans of thePokemonanime will undoubtedly miss hearing Cathcart’s distinctive voice.
