Rachael Lillis, Voice of Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, Dies at 55

Rachael Lillis, the renowned voice actress behind iconic 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

Family, Fans, and Friends Mourn the Loss of Rachael Lillis

Rachael Lillis, the cherished voice behind Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 10, 2024, following her battle with breast cancer. She was 55 years old.

Lillis' 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 profound gratitude 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 heartwarming 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 cancer battle, 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, a close friend and fellow voice actress who voiced Ash Ketchum in the early seasons of the Pokémon anime, paid tribute to Lillis on Twitter(X), describing her as "an extraordinary talent" whose voice "shone… whether speaking or singing."

"I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend," Taylor added. "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," Sands wrote. "A wonderful person gone way too soon."

Fans across social media platforms expressed their heartfelt tributes, reminiscing about Lillis' contributions to their childhoods. Beyond her iconic roles in Pokémon, fans fondly remembered 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 talents through opera training during her college years before embarking on a successful voice acting career. According to her IMDB page, she lent her remarkable voice to 423 episodes of Pokémon between 1997 and 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.