James Carter Cathcart, the iconic voice actor best known for voicing beloved characters in Pokémon and Sonic the Hedgehog, has sadly passed away at the age of 71.

Also known by his musical alias Jimmy Zoppi, Cathcart died peacefully earlier this week after a two-year battle with throat cancer. He passed away in hospice care at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York, according to a statement shared by his wife, Martha Jacobi, in a Facebook fan group on Thursday.

“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 8th July 2025, at Calvary Hospital,” she wrote.

A Voice That Defined a Generation
Cathcart was a legendary figure in the world of anime voice acting. He voiced numerous iconic characters in the English-language versions of Pokémon, including Professor Oak, Meowth, Gary Oak, and Team Rocket’s James. His first major appearance came in Pokémon: The First Movie in 1998. He continued to work on the franchise until 2020, stepping down after Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle.

Outside of Pokémon, Cathcart also voiced Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and the Shadow the Hedgehog video game.

Tributes from Friends and Colleagues
Voice actress Erica Schroeder, known for voicing characters such as Nurse Joy in Pokémon, paid an emotional tribute on Instagram:

“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.”

Former Led Zeppelin drummer Leesa Harrington-Squyres also shared a tribute, writing:

“He put up a fierce battle with that horrible C word. What an AMAZING musician and voice actor… the voice of Meowth and James on Pokémon (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.”

Life Beyond the Studio
In addition to his voice acting, Cathcart was a talented musician. He performed with The Laughing Dogs and later as part of The Carter Cathcart Band. He also contributed to numerous other anime series, including Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters and Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

His wife confirmed that a funeral service will be held in early August in New York, and memorial arrangements are currently being planned in conjunction with one of his favourite charities.

James Carter Cathcart leaves behind an extraordinary legacy that spans music, television, and heartfelt memories for generations of fans across the globe.