By Asmita - Jul 11, 2025
James Carter Cathcart, the voice behind various iconic Pokémon characters, including James of Team Rocket and Professor Oak, passed away at the age of 71 due to throat cancer. With a multifaceted career spanning music and voice acting, he made significant contributions to the Pokémon franchise and other popular anime and video games before retiring in 2023. His legacy includes over two decades of voicing beloved characters and adapting scripts for dubs, showcasing his talent and versatility in the industry.
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James Carter Cathcart, widely recognized as the voice behind iconic Pokémon characters, passed away on July 8, 2025, at the age of 71 due to throat cancer. Born on March 8, 1954, in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Cathcart was a multifaceted artist—an accomplished voice actor, script adaptor, voice director, pianist, and vocalist. He began his entertainment career as a musician, playing with bands like The Laughing Dogs in the late 1970s, before transitioning into voice acting in the 1980s. His early voice roles included Cap'n O. G. Readmore on the ABC Weekend Special series.
Cathcart’s most enduring legacy lies in his work on the English dub of the Pokémon franchise. Starting with Pokémon: The First Movie in 1998, he lent his voice to major characters such as Gary Oak, James of Team Rocket, Meowth, and Professor Oak. Over more than two decades, he voiced these characters in over 700 TV episodes and 15 films, becoming the only English voice actor to appear in every season of the series. He also adapted scripts for the dub from the fifth season through to Pokémon Ultimate Journeys: The Series, showcasing his versatility behind the scenes as well.
Beyond Pokémon, Cathcart contributed to other popular anime and video games, including Sonic X, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, One Piece, and the Shadow the Hedgehog video game. He was known for his dynamic vocal range, which allowed him to bring both humor and depth to his characters. His pseudonyms in voice work included Jimmy Zoppi, Billy Beach, and Carter Cathcart, reflecting different phases of his career and roles in various productions.
In 2023, Cathcart retired from voice acting due to an advanced form of throat cancer. He spent his final days in hospice care in Forest Hills, New York, surrounded by loved ones. His wife, Martha Jacobi, announced his passing and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support during his illness. Cathcart’s contributions to voice acting and music have left a lasting impact on fans and colleagues alike, marking the end of an era for Pokémon and the broader voice acting community.
