James Carter Cathcart, voice of Pokémon’s James, Meowth and Professor Oak, dies aged 71

RIP to a legend

Cathcart voiced legendary characters such as Professor Oak, Meowth, Gary Oak and Team Rocket's James in the English dubbed version of Pokémon.

He also did voice acting for Sonic the Hedgehog, voicing Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and the Shadow the Hedgehog game.

Cathcart was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago and died yesterday in hospice care in Forest Hills, New York, as reported by TMZ.

His wife Martha Jacobi announced his death on Facebook.

She said: "For those of you who don’t know me, I am James Carter Cathcart’s wife. JCC died, peacefully, very early in the morning, on Tuesday 7/8/25, at Calvary Hospital, in the Bronx.

"Memorial designations are still in process, pending conversations with one of the charities that was close to Jimmy’s heart. I will post those here when they are in place."

She revealed his funeral will be held "in early August" in New York.

His career in voice acting for Pokémon spanned 22 years, from Pokémon: The First Movie, until he stepped down in 2020 after Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle.

Many friends, fans and former colleagues paid tribute to the iconic voice actor.

Erica Schroeder, who voiced Nurse Joy and other characters in the franchise described Cathcart as a "gentle, beautiful, playful genius".

In a tribute posted to Instagram she said: "Rest in peace dear sweet man. 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."

Cathcart also provided voices for anime shows including Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, and Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, and also released music as both The Laughing Dogs and the Carter Cathcart Band.

Former Led Zeppelin drummer Leesa Harrington-Squyres wrote on Facebook: ‘He put up a fierce battle with that horrible C word. What an AMAZING musician and voice actor… the voice of Meoweth and Jake on Pokemon (also wrote the scripts!).

"He was one of the first people I got to know when moving up here. My heart goes out to his children and his friends. He will be missed."