Rachael Lillis, the iconic voice behind beloved Pokémon characters Misty and Jessie, has passed away at the age of 55 after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Tributes Pour In for Beloved Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis
Rachael Lillis, the cherished voice actress known for her roles as Misty and Jessie in the Pokémon series, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Her sister, Laurie Orr, announced the heartbreaking news on their GoFundMe page on Monday, August 12, stating, "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."
Orr expressed immense gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans and friends, which deeply moved Lillis. "She was touched to tears seeing the GoFundMe page filled with kind messages," Orr shared. Lillis cherished her interactions with fans at conventions and often recounted these heartwarming experiences.
"My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing that she is free," Orr added.
The GoFundMe campaign, which raised over $100,000 from more than 2,700 donors, will continue to support Lillis' medical expenses, fund a memorial service, and contribute to cancer-related causes in her memory.
Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum in the early seasons of Pokémon, paid tribute to Lillis on Twitter(X), calling her "an extraordinary talent" whose voice "shone, whether speaking or singing." Taylor added, "I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end."
Tara Sands, the voice of Bulbasaur, also shared her condolences, noting that Lillis was deeply touched by the love and support she received. "She is out of pain now. A wonderful person gone way too soon," Sands wrote.
Fans across social media platforms expressed their grief, remembering Lillis not only for her iconic Pokémon roles but also for her performances as Utena in ‘Revolutionary Girl Utena’ and Natalie in Ape Escape 2.
Born on July 8, 1969, in Niagara Falls, New York, Lillis honed her vocal skills through opera training in college before launching her successful voice acting career. According to her IMDB page, she lent her voice to 423 episodes of Pokémon from 1997 to 2015 and also voiced Jigglypuff in the Super Smash Bros. series and the 2019 film ‘Detective Pikachu’.
A memorial to celebrate her life is being planned for a future date, as announced by Veronica Taylor.
