Rachael Lillis, voice of Misty and Jessie on “Pokémon”, dies at 46

The actress and scriptwriter lent her pipes to countless anime films, series, and video games.

Rachael Lillis, the actress who lent her unique voice to a wide array of anime series, films, and video games, most notably as Misty and Jessie on the popular animated show Pokémon, died Saturday after a battle with cancer. She was 46.

Lillis' Pokémon castmate Veronica Taylor, who voiced protagonist Ash Ketchum, announced the news Monday on social media. "Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing," Taylor wrote.

Lillis was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. In Taylor's memoriam, she noted that "the generous love and support" offered to Lillis by her many fans "truly made a difference."

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Eric Stuart, who worked closely with Lillis as the voice actor behind Pokémon's Brock and James, teammates to Lillis' Misty and Jessie, shared Taylor's post and added his own message. "[Lillis] was one of the funniest, sweetest, kindest people," he wrote. "My dear friend for so many years. Celebrate her life by watching OG Pokemon, especially Team Rocket, she will always be my partner in comedic crime. RIP my friend."

As the voice of water-type trainer Misty and Team Rocket villain Jessie, Lillis made an indelible impression on millennials growing up in the late '90s watching Saturday morning cartoons. But her versatile talents extended far beyond those memorable characters.

On Pokémon, now called Pokémon the Series, Lillis also provided the calls, grunts, and various noises of the popular Pokémon Vulpix, Venonat, Goldeen, and Jigglypuff. She also voiced Jigglypuff in the 2019 film Detective Pikachu and five games in the Super Smash Bros. video game franchise.

Whether working in television, film roles, or video games, and whether dubbing or in live action, Lillis's remarkably dextrous voice could adapt to roles across the emotional spectrum.

Beyond Pokémon, Lillis voiced characters in a number of beloved anime series, including Your Lie in April, Berserk, Gokudo, Sonic X, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. She also provided voices to animated series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Winx Club, and video games like Valkyrie Profile, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures, and Lego Jurassic World.

Lillis worked for a time as a scriptwriter, turning in treatments of episodes of anime series like Boogiepop Phantom and K.O. Beast in the early 2000s. She is the second member of the original Pokémon cast to pass away; Maddie Blaustein, who voiced Meowth, died in 2008.

In Taylor's statement announcing Lillis' death, she added, "Her family also wishes to thank you as they take this time to grieve privately. A memorial is being planned for a future date.”

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.