Rachael Lillis, original voice actor for Misty and Jessie, dead at 55

Rachael Lillis, a prolific voice actor for the early Pokémon anime, movies, and video games, has died at age 55 after her short and private battle with breast cancer. Co-star Veronica Taylor, who was the original voice of Ash Ketchum, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Lillis passed on the evening of August 10th, stating, “I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end.”

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Lillis was a staple in early Pokémon media, with her most iconic roles being Misty and Jessie in the English-language anime. She also voiced a variety of other beloved characters and Pokémon, such as Ash’s Pikachu and Jigglypuff, until her departure from the series in 2006. Lillis lent her voice to many other English-language anime dubs, including Hunter x Hunter. The official Pokémon X account tweeted in remembrance of Lillis today, noting that her talent would live on in the hearts of the many fans of her performances.

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