Following a fight with breast cancer, the seasoned English voice actor for Japanese anime adaptations passed away on Saturday.
Rachael Lillis passed away. She was the voice actress for Misty and Jessie in the English-language versions of the popular Japanese anime series Pokémon on TV and in motion pictures. Her age was 46.
On Monday, Veronica Taylor, who played Ash in the animated Pokémon series, revealed on social media that Lillis had passed away on Saturday following a fight with breast cancer.
“As she fought cancer, Rachel was incredibly appreciative of all the kind love and support she received. It really did have a good impact. While they grieve in private during this time, her family also wants to thank you. At a later time, a memorial service is being organized,” Taylor continued.
On Monday, Lillis’ sister Laurie Orr, who set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expense of her recent medical care, also revealed that the veteran voice actor had passed away over the weekend. “I regret to inform you that Rachael has passed away. We are thankful that she went away pain-free and peacefully on Saturday night. She is surrounded by boundless love and is with God, the angels, and her family who have gone before her, according to Orr.
Born in Niagara Falls, New York on July 8, 1978, Lillis first pursued training in opera before pursuing a career in voice acting. Between 1997 and 2015, she provided the voices of Jessie and Misty in 423 episodes of the Pokémon television series.
In the Kunihiko Yuyama-directed Pokémon: The First movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998), Lillis also joined the voice cast for the same roles. In 2000, she participated in the Pokémon the Movie project.
Her other English-language voice acting credits for adaptations include the voice of Satsuki in the 1992 TV series Guardian of Darkness, Hunter x Hunter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Your Lie in April, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
