Rachael Lillis, Original 'Pokémon' Dub Voice Actress For Misty And Jessie, Has Died
She was the original dub voice of Misty, Jessie, and the recurring Jigglypuff, and had been battling breast cancer.
It is a sad sad day in the Pokémon community. Three months after going public with an advanced breast cancer diagnosis at the onset of a GoFundMe campaign to get her a better care situation, voice actress Rachael Lillis has died. Best known for her work with 4Kids Entertainment, including most prominently as the original English dub voices for Pokémon’s Misty and Jessie for the anime’s first eight seasons, corresponding movies, and Chronicles, she was allegedly 46 years old.
Her death was announced by her co-star Veronica Taylor, the original voice of Ash Ketchum, who shared in a note screenshot on Twitter that her passing occurred Saturday night, August 10. The message read “It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Rachael Lillis on Saturday evening, 10 August, 2024. Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing. She will be forever remembered for the many animated roles she played, with her iconic performances as Pokémon’s Misty and Jessie being the most beloved. Rachael was so thankful for all the generous love and support that was given to her as she battled with cancer. It truly made a positive difference.” She finished by passing along how grateful Lillis’s family is in the midst of their private grieving. A memorial is planned.
Accompanying the note was a tweet thread that mourned Lillis more personally. “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.” She continued “I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end. She had a great sense of humor, was wonderful to be with, incredibly intelligent, and had such a memory. She worked hard and cared deeply. I am not sure how this very dark void will be filled now that her light no longer shines in it. Like the shooting stars in the Perseids, Rachael was a magnificent wonder and truly special. She burned bright and vanished too soon. She will live on in our memories for eternity.”
Lillie’s GoFundMe was set up by her sister, Laurie Orr, who had sought to move Lillis from a nursing home facility in Los Angeles that she had been in since late January. The funds afforded her to go home and be cared for by a home care nurse who will help with cooking, hygiene, and administering medication. Lillis was in such a state that she could barely walk. The breast cancer had spread to her spine. Her care at the nursing home had become an issue, as the noise has become highly discomforting, making rest management difficult. The most recent update (on initial checks) was on the night Lillis ultimately passed, which read “Please keep Rachael in your prayers. She’s having a tough time with pain, and is struggling. She is getting pain meds to help her, and we continue to monitor her and continue to pray for her!”
However, shortly before 11 AM Monday morning, Laurie posted a new update to announce the passing:
Hello everyone,
With a heavy heart, I regret to say that Rachael has passed away. She passed peacefully Saturday night, without pain, and for that we are grateful.
She is with God, the angels, and family that has passed before her, surrounded by infinite Love.
Unfortunately, regrettably, I was not with her, it was just this past week that she was starting to decline. This was unexpected and we are completely grief-stricken. We ask for peace, for now, as her family grieves this loss.
Rachael (“Rae” as we called her) was a beautiful, smart, talented person with a kind heart who was so moved by all of you! (I would forward emails and comments to her, just in case she missed any!) She likened the response to this fund to the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life”, when George is surprised to learn just how much he is loved by his friends, and how much they Do care! She was moved to tears when seeing the GFM page with your comments & kind thoughts.
She remembered many of you that she happily met at conventions, for instance, and related stories to us about the experience and all the people she appreciated meeting! All of us have been so moved by the responses from all of You!
Funds donated for Rachael will go to any remaining medical bills, a memorial service for her, and causes in her name, especially those that fight cancer. As of her death, the $20,000 goal was reached nearly five times over at $96,045 from over 2600 donors. The goal had been expanded to $100,000 at some point since initial coverage. At the start of June, the moving arrangements began being made, and was completed by June 10. There was also a jacket raffle held.
Lillis, whose July 8 birthday was commemorated in a timely update, did have a third prominent role on Pokémon, and it was as the recurring Jigglypuff that puffed up in anger when everyone fell asleep to Sing and subsequently drew on them. The Detective Pikachu movie used her archive recordings for the Jigglypuff that appeared in the film. She was even the voice of Ash’s Pikachu for some brief moments very early on when Ikue Ohtani’s voice was overlapped. In addition to voicing Misty and Jessie, Lillis’s Pokémon roles included Jessie’s doppelgänger Jessebelle, Misty’s Horsea, Goldeen, and Poliwag (which eventually evolved into a Politoed), as well as her and Daisy’s respective Luvdisc, Caserin and Luverin. She also voiced Brock’s Vulpix and in her final role in the franchise, after more than a season of not being Jessie, Veilstone Gym Leader Maylene. Her other 4Kids work includes Sonic X, Dinosaur King, Tokyo Mew Mew/Mew Mew Power, Cubix, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Chaotic. Her last role was as Mito Freecss and Cocco in Hunter x Hunter, last appearing in 2019.
Sources: Veronica Taylor, GoFundMe