James Carter Cathcart, ‘Pokemon’ Voice Actor And Writer, Dies At 71

James Carter Cathcart, the veteran voice actor and writer best known for his decades-long work on the Pokémon franchise, died on July 8, 2025, at Calvary Hospital in New York City following a battle with throat cancer. He was 71.

Cathcart’s career in animation spanned over four decades. He was a core member of the English-language adaptation team for Pokémon, voicing multiple key characters including Professor Oak, Gary Oak, Team Rocket’s James, and, perhaps most iconically, Meowth. His tenure with the franchise began in 1998 with Pokémon: The First Movie and continued through Season 25, concluding with his retirement in 2023 due to his illness. In total, Cathcart appeared in over 700 episodes and more than 15 feature films.

In addition to his performance work, Cathcart served as the primary script adapter for the English dub of Pokémon for 17 years, writing and shaping dialogue for the series during a significant period of its international growth. His impact on the franchise is undeniable.

Outside of Pokémon, Cathcart’s voice credits included roles in Sonic X (Vector the Crocodile), Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Weevil Underwood, Lumis), One Piece, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Aria: The Animation, and Mission Odyssey, among others. He also contributed to video games, including Shadow the Hedgehog, and worked extensively in commercial voiceover for brands such as Kit Kat, Good Humor, and Coors Light.

Before his career in voice acting, Cathcart was active in the New York music scene. He was a vocalist and guitarist for the punk band The Laughing Dogs, which released two albums on Columbia Records and performed alongside acts like Blondie and the Patti Smith Group. He was also a trained pianist with experience in classical and jazz performance.

Cathcart began voice acting in the 1980s, with one of his earliest roles as Cap’n O. G. Readmore on the ABC Weekend Special. Over the course of his career, he developed a reputation for versatility across character types and genres, contributing significantly to the U.S. anime dubbing industry during a period of major growth.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Jacobi. A funeral service is planned for early August in New York.