- Pokémon voice actress Rachael Lillis dies at 46 after breast cancer battle
- Lillis voiced iconic characters Misty and Jessie, and appeared in 423 episodes
- Co-star Veronica Taylor and sister Laurie Orr pay tribute to her talent and legacy
Rachael Lillis, the talented voice actress behind beloved Pokémon characters Misty and Jessie, has died at the age of 46 after a battle with breast cancer. Her passing was announced by co-star Veronica Taylor, who voiced lead character Ash Ketchum.
“Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing,” Taylor wrote on social media. “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.”
Lillis’s sister, Laurie Orr, also confirmed her passing on a fundraising site for her cancer treatment. “This was unexpected and we are completely grief-stricken… My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free.”
Born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, Lillis trained in opera before becoming a voice actor. Her iconic voice appeared in 423 episodes of Pokémon between 1997 and 2015, as well as in films and video games, including Detective Pikachu and Super Smash Bros.
A memorial service is being planned for a later date to celebrate Lillis’s life and legacy.
