Rachael Lillis, Voice of Pokemon Characters, Dies at 55

Rachael Lillis, the cherished voice actress known for her roles as Misty and Jessie in the Pokémon series, passed away at the age of 55 on August 10, 2024, after a valiant fight against breast cancer.

Tributes Pour in for Beloved Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis

The news of Rachael Lillis' passing was shared by her sister, Laurie Orr, on their GoFundMe page on August 12. "With a heavy heart, I regret to say that Rachael has passed away," Orr wrote. "She passed peacefully Saturday night, without pain, and for that we are grateful."

Orr expressed heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming support and love from fans and friends, mentioning that Lillis was deeply moved by the messages on the GoFundMe page. Lillis treasured her interactions with fans at conventions and often shared touching stories about these encounters, according to Orr.

"My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing that she is free," Orr added.

The GoFundMe campaign, which was set up to support Lillis during her battle with cancer, has raised over $100,000 from more than 2,700 donors. Orr stated that the remaining funds will be used to cover medical expenses, organize a memorial service, and support cancer-related causes in Lillis' memory.

Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum in the early seasons of the Pokémon anime, 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 profoundly touched by the love and support she received. "She is out of pain now," Sands wrote. "A wonderful person gone way too soon."

Fans across social media platforms expressed their grief and gratitude, remembering Lillis not only for her iconic roles in Pokémon 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 during college before launching her successful voice acting career. Her IMDB page lists her contributions to 423 episodes of Pokémon from 1997 to 2015, and she 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.