Rachael Lillis, the voice actress renowned for her roles in the Pokémon TV series, films, and video games dating back to the late 1990s, has passed away from breast cancer at the age of 46.
Lillis was best known for voicing the iconic characters Misty and Jessie, among many others, in the beloved Japanese animated series.
Her death was announced by Veronica Taylor, who co-starred as Pokémon’s lead character, Ash Ketchum. Taylor expressed her sorrow on social media, writing, “Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing.”
Taylor continued, “We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful roles she played. She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills.”
Taylor also noted that Lillis was deeply grateful for the support she received while battling cancer, saying, “It truly made a positive difference.”
Lillis’s sister, Laurie Orr, confirmed her death on a GoFundMe page set up earlier this year to raise money for her cancer treatment and to help move her into a nursing home. Orr wrote, “This was unexpected, and we are completely grief-stricken,” adding that her sister’s health began to decline last week. “My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free.”
The GoFundMe page has raised over $100,000 (£78,000), including donations made by fans after her passing. Many expressed that Lillis had “gone too soon and much too young” and that her “light shined bright” through her work.
Orr stated that the funds would now be used to pay off remaining medical bills, fund a memorial service, and support efforts to combat cancer.
Born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, Lillis trained in opera at university before transitioning to a career in voice acting. According to IMDB, she lent her voice to 423 episodes of Pokémon between 1997 and 2015. Lillis also voiced the character Jigglypuff, including in the 2019 film Detective Pikachu and in the Super Smash Bros. video game series.
Source: BBC
