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James Carter Cathcart, Voice of Professor Oak and Meowth, Dies at 71

Scheduled for early August, his funeral marks the next step in honoring the legacy of a prolific voice actor whose quarter-century tenure shaped the English-language Pokémon dub.

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Ash, Pikachu and Misty (background) in 4Kids Entertainment's animated adventure "Pokémon 3," distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, on April 17, 2001.

Overview

  • His wife, Martha Jacobi, confirmed that Cathcart died peacefully on July 8 in hospice care in Forest Hills, New York, after a two-year battle with throat cancer that led to his 2023 retirement.
  • Funeral services are scheduled for early August in New York, with memorial designations pending conversations with charities close to his heart.
  • From 1998 to 2023, he voiced Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket’s James and Meowth across more than 700 episodes and 15 films of the Pokémon anime.
  • His credits extended beyond Pokémon to include Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and roles in Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
  • Colleagues and fans, including Erica Schroeder, have praised his joyful, kind-hearted talent and lasting influence on the animation community.