News

James Carter Cathcart, a performer best known for his voice work in the “Pokémon” franchise, died Tuesday at the age of 71.

His death was confirmed in a Facebook post on Thursday by his wife, Martha Jacobi, who wrote that he passed “peacefully” at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. Cathcart retired from voice acting in 2023 following a throat cancer diagnosis. According to The New York Times, the actor’s ex-wife, Jeanne Gari, confirmed in an interview that Cathcart’s cause of death was said cancer.

Born in 1954 in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Cathcart — aka Jimmy Zoppi — is survived by his wife Martha, as well as his daughters Nicole and Mackenzie and his son Carter.

A lifelong voice actor, Cathcart joined the “Pokémon” cast in 1998 and spent the following 25 years voicing some of the franchise’s most beloved characters — including Professor Oak, Gary, James and Meowth, one of the few Pokémon capable of speech.

Legendary voice actor, James Carter Cathcart, most known for voicing various Pokémoncharacters including Professor Oak, has died. According to Deadline, Cathcart died of throat cancer on July 8 in New York City. He was 71. The actor's death was announced by his wife, Martha Jacobi, in a post on Facebook. In it, she thanked fans for supporting her husband throughout his career. It reads,

"Thanks to all of Jimmy's fans over the years! Giving you joy was why he worked so hard on his craft. Please know how much he appreciated you!"

James' voice could also be heard in the 2003 television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, inwhich he voiced Raz in two episodes and Sleeg in one. These roles were credited under a different name, Jimmy Zoppi, which the actor used.

Cathcart's IMDb profile is filled with hundreds of voice credits, with Pokémon showing up consistently throughout the years as you scroll through the list.

James Carter Cathcart was not just another voice actor; he quite literally shaped many of our childhoods. Without his iconic voices for numerous characters in the series, Pokémon wouldn’t have been the same. That is why the news of his passing has left the community in a state of despair.

At the age of 71, this Pokémon legend bid farewell to the mortal realm, leaving many fans heartbroken. It was thanks to his fellow voice actress, Erica Schroeder, that we received the news. The cause of his death has been reported as a chronic throat cancer.

The Entire Pokèmon Community Mourns Cathcart’s Passing

Back in January 2023, Cathcart’s wife first announced that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer. It was just a while after he finished his final project, Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys, the latest 25th season of the franchise.

Through a recent Instagram post, Erica Schroeder mourns Cathcart’s passing,...

There aren't many people in the world who can say that they were the voice of a generation. That was not the case with James Carter Cathcart, the voice actor known for his work in several animated series — including a slate of characters in the Pokémon franchise. Today, the Pokémon world and the world of voiceacting in general went a little bit darker as Cathcart's wife announced on social media that the actor died on July 8 in New York City at 71, following a battle with throat cancer.

Cathcart was so talented that he voiced not just one Pokémon character. He brought several of them to life in the English dub — a lot of them core characters who are directly linked to the childhood memories of several long-time fans. He voiced Professor Oak (the first Pokémon professor ever), Team Rocket's James, the team's talking Meowth, as well as Professor Oak's grandson and Ash Ketchum's rival,...

James Carter Cathcart, the celebrated voice actor behind numerous characters in the English-language Pokémon anime, has died on July 8 at the age of 71. Cathcart, also known as Jimmy Zoppi, was best known for voicing series rival Gary Oak, a role he began in 1998 and continued until his retirement in 2023, a span of roughly 25 years. He first voiced Gary in Pokémon: The First Movie in 1998 and went on to portray the character in the original TV series. Over the years, he also lent his voice to Professor Oak, James of Team Rocket, Meowth, and several other characters, until retiring due to a throat cancer diagnosis. In addition to Pokémon, Cathcart lent his vocal talents to characters like Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and Chef Nagoya and Sir Gallant in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! His extensive body of work made him one of the most versatile and enduring voices in English anime dubbing,...

Sad news has enveloped Pallet Town and the rest of the Pokémon community after hearing that James Carter Cathcart, who voiced Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Meowth, and Team Rocket member James for the uber-popular and ground-breaking Pokémon franchise, has passed away at the age of 71. According to reports, Cathcart died on Tuesday after a battle with throat cancer.

“Rest in peace dear sweet man. I will miss you,” his Pokémon co-star Erica Schroeder, who voiced Nurse Joy, Wobbuffet, Eevee, and more characters, wrote in tribute on Instagram. “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.

James Carter Cathcart, a prolific voice actor whose credits included the Pokémon franchise and TV’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, died July 8 of throat cancer at Calvary Hospital in New York City. He was 71.

His death was announced in a Facebook post by his wife Martha Jacobi. “Thanks to all of Jimmy’s fans over the years!” she wrote. “Giving you joy was why he worked so hard on his craft. Please know how much he appreciated you!”

Cathcart’s lengthy roster of voice credits include a slew of Pokémon projects — more than 700 TV episodes, 15 movies and numerous games — stretching back to Pokemon: The First Movie in 1998. Among his franchise characters were Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket member James and his Pokémon sidekick Meowth.

Before retiring in 2023 following his throat cancer diagnosis, Cathcart, sometimes credited as Jimmy Zoppi, also voiced characters in Sonic X, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Masters, Aria: The Animation,...

Today is a sad day for the Pokémon fandom and the anime community. James Carter Cathcart, the legendary English anime voice actor behind Professor Oak, his grandson Gary, and more on Pokémon and beyond, has passed away at the age of 71.

English voice actor Erica Schroeder confirmed the tragic news on her Instagram account. "Rest in peace, dear sweet man," Schroeder wrote. "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."

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Erica Schroeder (@ericaschroederva)

Martha Jacobi, Cathcart's wife, announced her...

James Carter Cathcart, a voice actor who starred as several popular character in the “Pokemon” franchise, died Tuesday after complications from oral cancer. He was 71.

Cathcart voiced Professor Oak, his grandson Gary Oak, Team Rocket member James and his Pokemon sidekick Meowth for 25 years in the long-running anime.

“Rest in peace dear sweet man. I will miss you,” his “Pokemon” co-star Erica Schroeder, who voiced Nurse Joy, Wobbuffet and more characters, wrote in tribute. “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.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by...

Pokémon fans received some bad news this morning, as it was revealed that the modern voice of Team Rocket's James and Meowth, James Carter Cathcart, has passed away. The voice actor's death was reported on Instagram by fellow voice actor Erica Schroeder.

James Carter Cathcart took over the roles of James, Meowth, Professor Oak, and Gary Oak, among others, when the Pokémon voice actors were recast in 2006, during the Ruby and Sapphire era. He provided the voice for these characters and more from that point to the end of Ash's journey, playing the characters for nearly 17 years.

The Voice of James and Meowth Has Passed Away James Carter Cathcart Passed Away from Throat Cancer

The news was broken on Instagram this morning by Erica Schroeder, revealing that Cathcart had passed away at age 71 on July 8, 2025. According to TMZ, Cathcart's cause of death was throat cancer, which he had battled...

James Carter Cathcart has sadly passed away.

The voice actor, best known his work on Pokémon, died at the age of 71 on Tuesday (July 8) after a years-long battle with throat cancer, according to a family member.

He reportedly died in hospice care in Forest Hills, New York, via TMZ.

He was responsible for voicing several iconic characters from the series, including Professor Oak, Meowth, Gary Oak and James from Team Rocket.

Keep reading to find out more…

He was also known among Sonic the Hedgehog fans for voicing Vector the Crocodile.

James was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2023, and did not respond well to initial treatments, resulting in the need for aggressive chemotherapy.

He retired from voice acting after finishing his work on the English dub of Pokémon: Ultimate Journeys. Our thoughts are with James Carter Cathcart‘s loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

We have sadly lost...

The 1990s was a landmark decade for the anime medium, as it saw anime gain a foothold among viewers around the world. Many of the biggest works from this era are still revered to this day, be it among those who grew up watching them or newer anime fans who've gone back to enjoying the classics. While everyone knows about Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon, there were several other great anime released in the '90s that didn't get nearly as much attention.

The 1990s had many hits that developed the anime medium in pivotal ways, continuing the artistic energy of the 1980s while also laying the groundwork for anime becoming more internationally mainstream. These included overlooked mecha classics and fantasy works that were right out of a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. While they might not have been as memorable as other anime from that time, these classics can still be revisited today.

Married At First Sight drops bombshell as bride and groom realize they had dated before meeting at the altar. Producers shocked as couple's past connection is revealed, sparking hope for reigniting their relationship. Fans lash out at Jeff's casting on Mafs 2025, questioning the show's authenticity and choice of contestants.

Get ready for some jaw-dropping drama because Married At First Sight just served us the reality TV twist we never saw coming!

What was supposed to be a typical stroll down the aisle turned into a moment straight out of a rom-com when bride and groom, Jeff Gobbels and Rhi Disljenkovic, realized they were no strangerstheyd met before.

According to Daily Mail Australia, this bombshell reunion happened last Thursday, leaving everyone, including the producers, in absolute shock. Business owner Jeff and fitness influencer Rhi, both hailing from Melbourne, had crossed paths a year ago, introduced by none other than Australian Survivor...

The voice star behind some of Pokémon’s best-loved characters has retired from the anime.

James Carter Cathcart has provided multiple voices for the anime since 1998. These include Professor Oak and his grandson Gary and, since 2006, he has also voiced Team Rocket members James and Meowth.

It was reported in January that Cathcart had advanced cancer, which started in his tongue and had spread to his neck. The news was announced by his wife Martha via the website CaringBridge.

In a new post shared on 17 April, Martha, who previously said the cancer was treatable, revealed that the voice actor’s tumour “didn’t respond to the induction chemotherapy”.

Cathcart, 69, will now undertake a more aggressive form of chemo, which will begin in May.

While sharing the update Martha added: “In other news, Jimmy has decided to retire from script adapting and voice dubbing for Pokémon USA, effective at the conclusion...

Now that he’s officially become the very best, like no one ever was, Ash Ketchum is heading into retirement. The long-running and perpetually 10 year-old star of the beloved “Pokémon” anime will exit the series with an upcoming 11-episode run airing in Japan this January, the Pokémon Company announced Friday.

In his place, two new protagonists, Liko and Roy, will be introduced in a new series set in the Paldea region, first seen in this year’s Generation IX “Pokémon” games “Scarlet and Violet.” The series will premiere sometime later in 2023, and feature the starters from the game: Sprigatito (a grass cat), Fuecoco (a fire-breathing crocodile baby), and Quaxly (a water duck).

The news of Ash’s retirement from the anime comes a month after the Japanese airing of the 132nd episode of the “Pokémon Journeys” series, and the 1,217th episode of the anime overall, which saw Ash (voiced in...

Features the voices of: James Carter Cathcart, Laurie Hymes, Michele Knotz, Eddy Lee, Sarah Natochenny, Lisa Ortiz, Ikue Ôtani, Jake Paque, Haven Paschall, Billy Bob Thompson | Written by Aya Takaha, Eiji Umehara | Directed by Tetsuo Yajima

Directed by Tetsuo Yajima, Pokémon The Movie: The Power of Us is the second film in the rebooted anime film series and the 21st Pokémon released in total. Brightly animated and filled with upbeat messages, it’s safe to say that fans of the franchise won’t be disappointed, though newcomers may find themselves a little lost.

The plot centres on Risa (Laurie Hymes), a schoolgirl who visits her younger brother in hospital and agrees to attend an island-based Wind Festival on his behalf, in order to catch a rare Pokémon. On arrival, Risa meets a number of other characters, including: heroic Pokémon trainer Ash (Sarah Natochenny) and his adorable sidekick Pikachu (Ikue Ôtani...

Congratulations to Jesse Csincsak and Ann Lueders!

The Bachelor couple welcomed their third child together, a baby boy named Carter James, on Tuesday, Csincsak confirms to Et.

Exclusive: Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici Are Planning Baby No. 2!

"We are super excited for 2017! We feel like there is no better way to ring in a new year than with an addition to our family," the pro snowboarder tells Et, adding that both mom and baby are doing well and expected to go home on Friday.

Jesse Csincsak

Little Carter James is named after Lueders' late father, Brian Carter Lueders, who died last December. Carter measured 20 inches long, weighed 8 lbs., 4 oz., and was delivered via C-section.

Jesse Csincsak

Exclusive: 'Bachelor' Star Becca Tilley Gushes Over Boyfriend Robert Graham While JoJo Fletcher Shares Update on Wedding Plans

Csincsak and Lueders tied the knot in 2010 after searching for love on reality TV. Csincsak was DeAnna Pappas' final pick on season...

It’s a boy for Jesse and Ann Csincsak!

The Bachelorette winner and former Bachelor contestant welcomed their third child via cesarean section on Tuesday, Dec. 27, the father of three confirms to People. Born at 9:44 a.m. in Scottsdale, Arizona, Carter James Csincsak weighed in at 8 lbs., 4 oz., and measured 20 inches long.

Baby Carter — who joins big sister Charlotte Jean, 2½, and brother Noah Theodore, 5½ — has an extra-special name. It honors Ann’s father, who died in December 2015.

“My father-in-law Brian Carter Lueders was a huge part of our lives. Not only was he a grandfather father, but he was...

Congratulations are in order for two Bachelor Nation members. Jesse Csincsak and wife Ann Lueders welcomed their third child, a baby boy, into the world two days after Christmas. "Well Carter James Csincsak is finally here !!!" the proud dad shared on Twitter while confirming the happy news. According to InTouch, who first broke the news, the couple named their son after Ann's late father named Brian Carter Lueders. "2017 is starting out the right way! We are excited for the future and can't wait to see [the couple's two other children] Noah and Charlotte with Carter," Jesse shared with the publication. "It melts my heart to think about it." Jesse...