James Carter Cathcart’s 'Pokémon' Colleagues Pour In Tributes Following His Death
He’s one of the stars above now
Gary was here, Ash is a mourner. Veteran voice actor and musician James Carter Cathcart, known for his roles as Gary Oak, Professor Oak, and Team Rocket members James and Meowth in the Pokémon anime, and Weevil Underwood on Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, died Tuesday, July 8 at the age of 71 from the throat cancer that forced him into retirement in 2023. His wife, Martha Jacobi made a basic announcement to beat the press, while Erica Schroeder, who by his retirement was the voice of Jessie’s Wobbuffet, was the first colleague to eulogize him, calling him among a flurry of flowery descriptions “one of a kind, a gentle, beautiful, playful genius”. But of course, she wasn’t going to be the only colleague hoping to extend their reach to the stars above in remembering him.
There’s no better place to start than with his partner-in-crime, and best friend Michele Knotz, who took over the role of Jessie in the big recast when 4Kids stopped dubbing the series, where he took on both James and Meowth, and thus became the Team Rocket trio together. It also comes with her perspective on his final days. She writes “I knew I was going to have to make this post soon because he wasn't doing well. I had this terrible feeling when I talked to Martha on Sunday. I wanted to try and see him one last time but unfortunately I was too late. I've only really been communicating with Carter through Zoom, calls and texting since 2019/2020 because of covid and everyone needed to be careful around him due to the cancer. I loved Carter so, so much. I haven't felt this way since my cousin passed away. I can't stop crying looking through all of our pictures. I met James Carter Cathcart or "Carter" as he introduced himself to me in 2003 working on The World of Narue. Talking to Jamie McGonnigal [the voice of Barry] he told me he was reminiscing watching it. Then in 2006 we started working on Pokemon together. Bill Rogers [who became the voice of Brock when she became Jessie] and I would go watch Carter play drums or guitar in his band at restaurants and bars. I think it was 2015 or 2016 Carter and I started going to conventions together. We went to so many cons and always had so much fun. We even had the opportunity to go to a con in Newcastle in the UK. I got to watch him play piano so many times at conventions and at his home. To say Carter was talented is an understatement. He was a genius. I looked up to him so much. He was hands down the most creative, beautiful, and insightful person I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He had perfect pitch and would always record his parts and my parts if there was any singing to make it easier for me. I always wanted him to record first, because following him was not only easier for me, but he always, always made me laugh. His acting was beyond stellar. His screaming, laughing, and deadpan reactions always had me in stitches. I always had a Captain America, "I understood that reference" moment with his writing. My favorite was the "Sponge Cakes" song that sounded like "Fish Heads." My favorite line he wrote for me was "If it's not on a plate, it can wait!" Our favorite season was Sun and Moon because of how perfect all the jokes fell. He was the most incredible writer I've ever seen. His comedic timing was phenomenal. He voiced Miki in Revolutionary Girl Utena who played the piano and the first time I heard Carter play “The Sunlit Garden” in real time I cried, it was so beautiful. Carter's performance when Chimecho was sick was the most beautiful I'd ever seen. He could truly make you laugh and cry with such ease.” She continued “But he was so much more than a colleague. He was a wonderful and amazing friend. When covid hit we'd text each other at 3am because we weren't sure what to do with the chaos that happened. Carter was beyond a kindhearted and loving person. He was an angel, someone I've never met before in my entire life. Just truly a good, good person. I've never met anyone like him. He'd do anything for anyone. Give anyone the shirt off his back. He was truly a gem of a human being. He was my partner in crime for 18 years, but I knew him well before that. I went from fan to colleague to friend, one of my best friends, and I'll never, ever forget him. How could anyone? He was perfect in every aspect of his life. I'll forever treasure every memory I had with him. I wish I could've seen him more these past few years. There's so much I wanted to tell him. So much I should've told him. I'm kicking myself now for not telling him.... a lot. How much I admired him. How much he meant to me. I can no longer see you with my eyes, but I can feel you in my heart. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." We'll blast off again someday when I can see you again, my friend. I love you, Carter. I'm so so sorry I didn't get to say good-bye. I hope you can forgive me.....”
James Carter Cathcart, Veteran 'Pokémon' Voice Actor, Has Died At 71
Cancer has taken another of the Pokémon community. James Carter Cathcart, the voice of Ash Ketchum’s rival Gary Oak since the first episode, who would later become the voice of James and Meowth of Team Rocket as well as Gary’s grandfather Professor Oak, has died at 71 from the throat cancer which drove him to retirement. His death on Tuesday, July 8, co…
Then we have Sarah Natochenny, the voice of Ash Ketchum (and his mother Delia) for those same 17 years, who began with a plea to remember him with the honor and respect he deserved, with a screenshot of a note with her fuller statement “James Carter Cathcart will forever live in our collective memory as the voice behind some of the most iconic and beloved characters in Pokémon…roles he embodied masterfully…He was the kindest, most empathetic man - a wonderfully sensitive artist whose talents as a pianist, composer, voice actor, and scriptwriter were matched by his deep love for the work. I wish we had more joyful moments together. It was a privilege to be his co-star on Pokémon, spending 17 years voicing his pun-filled episode titles - and entire episodes he wrote -… This is a tremendous loss. I will carry him deep in my heart forever.” She closed the message with “With love for all who love him”, and lamented in her Instagram that she couldn’t find a single picture of them together.
Current voice director Lisa Ortiz started out as Misty’s sister Daisy and Saffron City Gym Leader Sabrina, and after coming back took on Ash’s Oshawott (and other instances of members in its evolution line), his Fletchling into Fletchinder, Litten into Torracat, and more. She started with commenting on their decades-long professional relationship and was more reserved in posting at first. However early Friday, her post came, calling him a close personal friend and having worked with him until his retirement. She acknowledges that public information is sparse, intentionally so, that even the trades that got ahold didn’t do much to uncover it. After the pandemic Ortiz moved to Los Angeles, but still made a point to visit him on her trips back to New York. She acknowledged his roles in Revolutionary Girl Utena and Slayers as well, and his longevity with Pokémon while also filling in some biographical holes. “He would work in the booth with me for a decade while I directed him-his talent as an actor, and comedian was incredible, as was his timing and his range. And he would become a close and cherished friend. We’d sing in the booth during record sessions… Carter was a musical child prodigy and virtuoso pianist; the son of a family many consider musical royalty. {His mother was Lyn Wild (of the Wild twins), and his father, James E Cathcart, was an accomplished musician.) He himself was an accomplished musician before he began voice acting. He studied at Interlochen Arts academy, and performed with Dave Brubeck in 2 generations of Burbeck. He warmed up for Blondie, jammed with members of the Monkees, and was a CBGB regular with his band Laughing Dogs. But despite all that, when I brought him my first composition for my Off Broadway show, and asked for his help to collaborate, he put everything down, pulled up the piano and started working with me after sessions. No ego.. no nothing. Just a love of Music and laughter and friendship. I’ll never forget- Carter had perfect pitch, and I sang, and he notated the music; turned it into notes on a page-something I learned he’d done when he was younger for work, notating songs off the radio so there was sheet music records. He encouraged me. I thanked him for writing the song with me and in true Carter fashion he told me I had already written it.. He just “tweaked a transition here and there” because I apparently “hated drummers”, which made me grin. He was gifted beyond anything.. and yet he never made you feel like you didn’t know.. he was humble. He collaborated and he treated every artist of the team like a peer. It’s rare for someone so gifted to be so free and giving. We shared a love of vaudeville and comedy and he’d recommend me things all the time. His comedic knowledge and sense of humor was all over Pokemon and his puns and classical comedy homages would make me laugh out loud. We’d talk about life and our families and our cats.. normal stuff. And when he was sick and couldn’t go out to conventions anymore, I, and other castmates (Sarah, Michele, Erica, Jessica, Bill etc ) and friends would text him videos and photos with other castmates, and photos of fans and cosplay. And he’d always check up on everyone via text or facebook or a call. He cared. About his friends. About his fans. About his work. About the people around him. And the world is less without him. I don’t think he knew just how loved he was by friends and by fans, until the initial outpouring of support he got when he first got sick. Even then I'm not sure. I know those messages meant a lot to him. Please post your tributes. Please share your photos. Team Rocket has had rough go of it lately. But their stars shine bright. I love you and will miss you…I’m thankful you were in my life. And I’m thankful you were my friend. All my love, Lisa.”
Daman Mills, who has voiced Dot’s Quaxwell beginning as an Quaxly and Explorers member Amethio wrote “My heart hurts to write this. The world is a darker place without the beacon of light that is James Carter Cathcart. His passing leaves a heavy hole in not only my heart, but with every soul he met, or wherever his work reached. He brought such immeasurable joy to people. I met Carter with Michele Knotz early in my career when I was trying to get my footing in the voice over scene up in New York. He was always the most charming, fun, lovely person in the room. He treated you with such familiarity that made you feel safe - like family. He helped me feel encouraged and welcomed at such fledgling stages of my career. Carter was incredibly talented… Not only was he a versatile and brilliant actor, he was an incredible musician and song writer. And he acted as the script adapter on the Pokémon dub for many years; his writing is some of the wittiest, most hilarious dialogue I’ve had the pleasure to work on. And so so much more. I’m a better person for having known him, and I am so sad that I didn’t get to know him even better. I’m sure you had many more fabulous tales to tell. Rest in peace, sir. It was an absolute pleasure.”
Tyler Bunch, credited as H.D. Quinn during Cathcart’s tenure, is the anime’s Incineroar guy, as well as the voice of Team Flare leader Lysandre. He wrote on Facebook “I remember sitting and having a conversation with him for about a half an hour at DuArt (when there was a DuArt) and being enamored with everything about him. His kindness…his demeanor…his eloquence. The world has lost a special person. It was lovely to share time and space with you, Carter. Farewell.”
Barrett Leddy, the voice of Molayne and Wikstrom, called Cathcart an “extremely talented and lovely man”. Tara Jayne Sands, known for voicing Bulbasaur, Yamper, Ritchie, and Yu-Gi-Oh!’s Mokuba, wrote “A very sad loss for our Pokémon family. Carter was such an incredibly talented and versatile actor. Sending so much love to his family.” Michael Sinterniklaas, the voice of Leonardo in 4Kids’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series commented on his Facebook page “Love you legend… <3”
I held off on publishing this because not only was there Ortiz’s fuller statement to await, but there was the hope of other alums putting out statements. But most of all, that the official franchise socials would put out a statement like they did for Rachael Lillis last year. While I couldn’t wait around forever, I still got one of those things, admittedly I had to find it. As I waited I noticed the Yu-Gi-Oh! Twitch channel turned into a tribute stream, so it was in the midst of a curated season 1-loaded stretch focusing on Weevil and Lumis, the latter being one of Marik’s hired Rare Hunters. Neither of the Pokémon channels on Pluto nor Prime Video adjusted their schedule, though the latter happening to be at the end of a cycle means “Home Is Where the Start Is!”, the final episode of Battle Frontier, and “Pokémon - I Choose You!”, the entire anime’s first episode, will play back-to-back. The only other scenario where this works is a loop ending with “The Rivalry Revival”, the last episode of the Orange Islands arc. Pluto is stuck in the middle of Johto and seemingly still hasn’t added Battle Frontier. In addition, the Prime Video channel has an airing of Mewtwo Strikes Back, where he voiced Fergus, scheduled for sometime Sunday.
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Sources: Michele Knotz, Barrett Leddy, Sarah Natochenny, Lisa Ortiz (1, 2), Tara Sands