James Carter Cathcart Dead at 71 Pokemon voice actor meowth, james, professor oak The Pokémon Company

James Carter Cathcart Dead at 71, POKÉMON Actor Voiced James, Meowth, and Prof. Oak

Originally posted on Nerdist | By Rotem Rusak | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 4:09 PM ET

When it comes to an animated series, voice actors are key to making the characters sing. And one of the most beloved animated series of all is, hand’s down, Pokémon. When one thinks of Pokémon, Ash and Pikachu probably pop to mind first. But Team Rocket are just behind them. Pokémon would simply not be the same without Jesse, James, and Meowth. Their iconic theme song and hilarious, slightly evil antics made Pokémon into the show that it was. And so, it is with a sad heart that we share that iconic voice actor James Carter Cathcart, who brought James, Meowth, Gary, and Professor Oak to life, has died at the age of 71. We’re reciting the Team Rocket motto right now in our hearts in his honor.

James Carter Cathcart died this week after a long battle with throat cancer. He actually retired from acting in 2023 after his diagnosis. But before that sad event, James Carter Cathcart starred in Pokémon from its first episode all the way through Season 25. In total, before his death, James Carter Cathcart brought Meowth, James, and Professor Oak to our screens in over 700 episodes of Pokémon. He also contributed his voice to over 15 Pokémon movies, including 1998’s Pokémon: The First Movie, which is a masterpiece.

Cathcart also acted in other animated series such as Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, and more. But Pokémon will always be his true legacy. Both James and Meowth are easily two of the series’ most interesting characters, and it was James Carter Cathcart who gave them the necessary naunce to capture hearts and minds. And who didn’t have a crush on Gary at some point?

James Carter Cathcart’s death is a sad loss for Pokémon fans. But, no doubt, if you listen, you’ll hear murmurs of “That’s right!” echoing into the stars above.

This article first appeared on Nerdist and was syndicated with permission.

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