Rachael Lillis
American voice actress (1969–2024)
Rachael Lillis
Lillis in 2017
Born (1969-07-08 ) July 8, 1969Died August 10, 2024(2024-08-10) (aged 55) Other names Rachael McCabe[ 1] Alma mater Smith College (BS )Occupation Voice actress Years active 1997–2021 Website Official website (archive)
Rachael Lillis (July 8, 1969[ a] – August 10, 2024) was an American voice actress. She was best known for her performances as Misty , Jessie , and Jigglypuff in the first eight seasons of the English dub of the TV series Pokémon . In addition to voice roles in other animation works, she also provided voices for many video games.
Early life
Rachael Lillis was born in Niagara Falls, New York , on July 8, 1969.[ 3] [ 4] She was the youngest of six children.[ 3] Lillis attended Smith College , where she was a premed student.[ 3] She also trained in opera before she became a voice actor.[ 5] She studied voice acting in Boston and moved to New York City in 1996.[ 6]
Career
Lillis became known for voicing Misty and Jessie in the English dub of the Pokémon anime. She also voiced Pokémon such as Goldeen, Jigglypuff , Vulpix and Venonat on the show. Lillis appeared in 423 Pokémon episodes. She also voiced various Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. video games.[ 5] Lillis was also the voice of Utena Tenjo in Revolutionary Girl Utena and voiced characters in Winx Club , Hunter × Hunter , Your Lie in April and Gall Force , among other shows.[ 3] [ 7] [ 8]
Lillis's last voice acting role was in Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission . According to Veronica Taylor , Lillis had difficulty finding work during the COVID-19 pandemic , in part due to a lack of recording equipment at her home. In 2023, Lillis attended a Pokémon cast reunion in London.[ 3]
Death
In May 2024, a GoFundMe campaign created by Lillis's sister announced that Lillis had developed breast cancer . Several of her fellow actors shared the campaign to help raise money for her care.[ 9] The campaign raised $98,000 by the time she died, with the money going towards Lillis's remaining bills, a memorial service and cancer research.[ 5] The cancer spread to her spine, which left her barely able to walk, and she eventually moved into a Los Angeles nursing home to receive care.[ 10] Lillis died from the disease in Los Angeles, on August 10, 2024, at the age of 55.[ 3] [ 2]
Filmography
Voice roles
Film
Anime
Animation
Video games
Audiobooks
Production credits
Script adaptation
Translator
References
^ a b c d e f "Rachael McCabe" . Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2019 .
^ a b Moreau, Jordan (August 12, 2024). "Rachael Lillis, 'Pokémon' Star Who Voiced Misty and Jessie, Dies at 55" . Variety . Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024 .
^ a b c d e f Moses, Claire (August 12, 2024). "Rachael Lillis, Who Voiced Popular 'Pokémon' Characters, Dies at 55" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024 .
^ a b c d e f Matza, Max (August 13, 2024). "Pokémon series voice star Rachael Lillis dies at 55" . BBC News . Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024 .
^ a b c Cain, Sian (August 13, 2024). "Rachael Lillis, voice of Misty in Pokémon, dies aged 55" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024 .
^ Liebenson, Donald (March 23, 2000). "Anime Star" . Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2024 .
^ Tinoco, Armando (August 12, 2024). "Rachael Lillis Dies: 'Pokémon' Voice Actor For Misty & Jessie From Team Rocket Was 55" . Deadline . Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024 .
^ Jaeger, Griffin (August 13, 2024). "Rachael Lillis, voice behind Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, dead at 55" . CBC News . Retrieved August 17, 2024 .
^ "GoFundMe Campaign Launched for Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis" . Anime News Network . May 13, 2024. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024 .
^ Alex Mateo (August 12, 2024). "Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis Dies (Updated)" . Anime News Network .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Rachael Lillis" . Behind The Voice Actors . Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019 . Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: postscript (link )
^ Beveridge, Chris (April 2, 2015). " 'Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg Of The King' Anime Feature Gets Netflix Distribution" . The Fandom Post. Retrieved November 27, 2016 .
^ "Jigglypuff's original voice actor was credited but never notified" . GoNintendo.com. May 10, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021 .
^ a b Flook, Ray (August 12, 2024). "Pokémon Icon, Voice Actress Rachael Lillis Passes Away at Age 55" . bleedingcool.com . Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024 .
^ a b c d e f "Guests" . New York Comic Con . Archived from the original on October 2, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2019 .
^ a b c d e f "Entertainment Guests" . Los Angeles Comic Con. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019 .
^ Liebenson, Donald (March 23, 2000). "Anime Star" . Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016 .
^ a b c d e f g h Rachael Lillis Voiceover (May 24, 2015). Rachael Lillis Animation VO Demo . YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2018 .
^ "News Briefs" . Anime News Network. April 24, 1999. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014 .
^ a b Gokudo - The Complete Series (DVD). Discotek Media. 2016.
^ "Kare Kano Dub List" . Anime News Network . March 27, 2002. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2012 .
^ Washington, Darius (December 2, 2014). "Ten Years Later: Space Symphony Maetel Anime Series" . The Fandom Post . Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2016 .
^ a b c "Rachael Lillis" . ANIMATE! Florida. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017 .
^ Hammerboy (DVD). Central Park Media. 2005.
^ "After Kiss". Boys Be... . Season 1. Episode 3.
^ "Rona Fauna". The Third . Season 1. Episode 17.
^ "Gundam Unicorn Anime English Cast Announced" . Anime News Network. December 25, 2009. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2011 .
^ Aniplex (February 16, 2016). Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works Set 2 Booklet .
^ Rachael Lillis Voiceover (June 27, 2019). Rachael Lillis as Tomoe Ame in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' . YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2019 .
^ "R.I.P. Rachael Lillis: 'Pokémon' And 'Winx Club' Voice Actor Dead At 46" . Decider . Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024 .
^ Nintendo . Super Smash Bros . Scene: Closing credits, 0:54 in, Voice Actors.
^ "The original Pokemon movie actor behind Misty and Jessie, Rachael Lillis, has died" . Yahoo Entertainment . August 12, 2024. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024 .
^ "Valkyrie Profile (2000)" . behindthevoiceactors.com . Archived from the original (web.archive.org) on June 13, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2024 .
^ HAL Laboratory . Super Smash Bros. Melee . Nintendo . Scene: Ending credits, 0:26.
^ TT Fusion . Lego Jurassic World . Scene: Closing credits, 6:15 in, Voice Cast.
^ "Rachael Lillis" . Live Oak Media . Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2019 .
^ Apocalypse Zero (DVD). Media Blasters. 2001.
^ Boogiepop Phantom - Complete TV Series (DVD). Media Blasters. 2012.
^ K.O. Beast (DVD). Vol. 1. The Right Stuf International. 2003.
^ Cleopatra D.C. (DVD). Media Blasters. 2002.
Notes
^ "Though it was originally reported that Lillis was 46 [at the time of her death], The New York Times confirmed with her sister, Laurie Orr, that she was born on July 8, 1969."[ 2]
External links