Voice actress Rachael Lillis, known for her roles in the Pokémon TV series, films, and video games since the late 1990s, has passed away from breast cancer at the age of 46.
Lillis brought characters like Misty and Jessie to life in the beloved Japanese animated series.
Veronica Taylor, who co-starred as Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum, shared the news of Rachael’s passing, describing her as “an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing.
“We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful roles she played,” Ms Taylor wrote on social media on Monday.
“She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills.”
She said Lillis was grateful for the support she received as she battled cancer.
“It truly made a positive difference,” Ms Taylor said.
Lillis’s sister also confirmed her passing on a GoFundMe page that had been set up earlier this year to support her cancer treatment and relocation to a nursing home.
Laurie Orr expressed deep sorrow, mentioning the unexpected nature of the loss and how her sister’s health deteriorated recently.
She shared, “My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free.”
The GoFundMe page has received over $100,000 in donations, with fans expressing sadness at her early departure and praising how her light shone bright through her work.
Orr stated that the funds would now be used to settle remaining medical bills, organize a memorial service, and contribute to cancer research efforts.
Lillis, hailing from Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, initially pursued opera training at university before venturing into voice acting.
Her vocal talents graced 423 episodes of Pokémon from 1997 to 2015, as documented on IMDB.
Additionally, she lent her voice to the iconic Pokémon character Jigglypuff, featuring in the 2019 movie Detective Pikachu and the Super Smash Bros video game series.
Lillis brought characters like Misty and Jessie to life in the beloved Japanese animated series.
Veronica Taylor, who co-starred as Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum, shared the news of Rachael’s passing, describing her as “an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing.
“We all know Rachael Lillis from the many wonderful roles she played,” Ms Taylor wrote on social media on Monday.
“She filled our Saturday mornings and before/after school hours with her beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills.”
She said Lillis was grateful for the support she received as she battled cancer.
“It truly made a positive difference,” Ms Taylor said.
Lillis’s sister also confirmed her passing on a GoFundMe page that had been set up earlier this year to support her cancer treatment and relocation to a nursing home.
Laurie Orr expressed deep sorrow, mentioning the unexpected nature of the loss and how her sister’s health deteriorated recently.
She shared, “My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free.”
The GoFundMe page has received over $100,000 in donations, with fans expressing sadness at her early departure and praising how her light shone bright through her work.
Orr stated that the funds would now be used to settle remaining medical bills, organize a memorial service, and contribute to cancer research efforts.
Lillis, hailing from Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, initially pursued opera training at university before venturing into voice acting.
Her vocal talents graced 423 episodes of Pokémon from 1997 to 2015, as documented on IMDB.
Additionally, she lent her voice to the iconic Pokémon character Jigglypuff, featuring in the 2019 movie Detective Pikachu and the Super Smash Bros video game series.
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