‘Pokémon’ voice actor Rachael Lillis dies at 55

SALT LAKE CITY ( KTVX ) — Rachael Lillis, 55, a voice actor known for her roles in the original “Pokémon” cartoon, died after a battle with breast cancer on Saturday.

Lillis’ voice acting career began in the 1980s and she has appeared in hundreds of TV shows and animated features through the 2010s. Most notably, Lillis portrayed Misty, the water-type specialist gym leader in the hit kids show “Pokémon.” In addition to Misty, Lillis also voiced Jessie, one of Ash and Misty’s antagonists in the villainous gang Team Rocket.

Fellow voice actor Veronica Taylor, who provided the original voice for Pokémon’s main character Ash Ketchum, shared the news on Instagram . Taylor said Lillis was an extraordinary talent who provided a bright light through her voice.

“She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills,” Taylor wrote.

Lillis’ voice can be heard throughout “Pokémon,” not just in the human characters. She brought to life several of the Pokémon such as the sleep-inducing singing Jigglypuff, the fire-fox Pokémon Vulpix, and the often-seen-as-a-nurse Pokémon Chansey.

The Pokémon Company released a statement saying they were saddened to hear of Lillis’ passing.

“Her performance in the Pokémon animated series will be cherished by the many fans who grew up with the characters she brought to life with her special talent,” the company posted to social media. “She will be remembered for generations to come, and we will always keep her close in our hearts.”

Outside of her roles in Pokémon, Lillis also appeared in popular animated shows such as “Hunter x Hunter,” “Winx Club,” and “Your Lie in April.”

“I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end,” said Taylor. “She had a great sense of humor was wonderful to be around, was incredibly intelligent, and had such a memory y for moments – real or animated. She worked hard and cared deeply.”

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Taylor said Lillis was thankful for the generous love and support she received as she battled with breast cancer. A memorial is being planned for a future date.

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