Rachael Lillis Explained
Rachael Lillis (July 8, 1969 – August 10, 2024) was an American voice actress and scriptwriter. She was best known for her performances as Misty and Jessie in the first eight seasons of the English dub of the TV series Pokémon. Apart from dubbing in many other animations, she also provided her voice in video games.
Early life
Rachael Lillis was born in Niagara Falls, New York, on July 8, 1969.[2] She was the youngest of six children. Lillis attended Smith College, where she was a premed student. She also trained in opera before she became a voice actor. She studied voice acting in Boston and moved to New York City in 1996.[3]
Career
Lillis became known for voicing Misty and Jessie in the English dub of the Pokémon anime. She also voiced Pokémon such as Goldeen, Jigglypuff, Vulpix and Venonat on the show. Lillis appeared in 423 Pokémon episodes. She also voiced various Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros video games.[4] Lillis was also the voice of Utena Tenjo in Revolutionary Girl Utena and voiced characters in Winx Club, Hunter × Hunter, Your Lie in April and Gall Force, among other shows.[5] [6]
Lillis's last voice acting role was in a 2019 episode of Ollie & Scoops. It was hard for her to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to a lack of recording equipment at her home. In 2023, Lillis attended a Pokémon cast reunion in London.
Death
In May 2024, a GoFundMe campaign created by Lillis's sister announced that Lillis had developed breast cancer. Several of her fellow actors shared the campaign to help raise money for her care.[7] The campaign raised $98,000 by the time she died, with the money going towards Lillis' remaining bills, a memorial service and cancer research.[4] The cancer spread to her spine, which left her barely able to walk. Lillis eventually moved into a Los Angeles nursing home to receive care.[8] Lillis died from the disease in Los Angeles, on August 10, 2024, at the age of 55.[9] [10]
Filmography
Voice roles
Film
Anime
Animation
Video games
Audiobooks
Production credits
Script adaptation
Translator
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Rachael McCabe. https://web.archive.org/web/20160228210503/https://sites.google.com/site/rachaelmccabeactor/home. February 28, 2016. October 11, 2019.
- Web site: Matza . Max . 2024-08-13 . Pokémon series star voice actress Rachael Lillis dies at 46 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813083215/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge9zdve9no . August 13, 2024 . 2024-08-13 . . en-GB.
- News: Liebenson . Donald . March 23, 2000 . Anime Star . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028142933/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-03-23-0003230299-story.html . October 28, 2021 . August 14, 2024 . Chicago Tribune.
- News: Cain . Sian . 2024-08-13 . Rachael Lillis, voice of Misty in Pokémon, dies aged 55 . 2024-08-17 . . en-GB . 0261-3077 . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817114817/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/13/rachael-lillis-death-voice-actor-pokemon-dead-dies-aged-46 . live .
- Web site: Tinoco . Armando . 2024-08-12 . Rachael Lillis Dies: ‘Pokémon’ Voice Actor For Misty & Jessie From Team Rocket Was 55 . 2024-08-17 . Deadline . en-US . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817114818/https://deadline.com/2024/08/rachael-lillis-dead-pokemon-voice-misty-jessie-team-rocket-1236037939/ . live .
- Web site: Jaeger . Griffin . August 13, 2024 . Rachael Lillis, voice behind Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, dead at 55 . August 17, 2024 . CBC News.
- Web site: May 13, 2024 . GoFundMe Campaign Launched for Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514040737/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-05-13/gofundme-campaign-launched-for-pokemon-voice-actress-rachael-lillis/.210783 . May 14, 2024 . May 14, 2024 . Anime News Network.
- Web site: Pokémon Voice Actress Rachael Lillis Dies (Updated) . August 12, 2024 . Anime News Network . Alex Mateo.
- News: Moses . Claire . Rachael Lillis, Who Voiced Popular 'Pokémon' Characters, Dies at 55 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813000549/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/12/arts/television/rachael-lillis-dead.html . August 13, 2024 . August 12, 2024 . August 12, 2024 . The New York Times.
- News: Moreau . Jordan . August 12, 2024 . Rachael Lillis, 'Pokémon' Star Who Voiced Misty and Jessie, Dies at 55 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812190654/https://variety.com/2024/tv/obituaries-people-news/rachael-lillis-dead-pokemon-misty-jessie-1236104010/ . August 12, 2024 . August 13, 2024 . Variety.
- Web site: Rachael Lillis. Behind The Voice Actors. en-US. November 5, 2019. . Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.. November 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105131343/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Rachael-Lillis/. live.
- Web site: 'Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I – The Egg Of The King' Anime Feature Gets Netflix Distribution. Beveridge. Chris. The Fandom Post. April 2, 2015. November 27, 2016.
- Web site: Dub Cast for Welcome to the Space Show Announced. April 7, 2012. Anime News Network. February 17, 2013. July 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730113435/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-04-07/dub-cast-for-welcome-to-the-space-show-announced. live.
- Web site: Jigglypuff's original voice actor was credited but never notified. May 10, 2019. GoNintendo.com. November 17, 2021. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117211726/https://www.gonintendo.com/stories/335066-jigglypuff-s-original-voice-actor-was-credited-but-never-notifie. live.
- Web site: Flook . Ray . 2024-08-12 . Pokémon Icon, Voice Actress Rachael Lillis Passes Away at Age 46 . 2024-08-14 . bleedingcool.com . en . August 12, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812174110/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/pokemon-icon-voice-actress-rachael-lillis-passes-away-at-age-46/ . live .
- Web site: Guests. https://web.archive.org/web/20101002104856/http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en/NYAF/Guests/. October 2, 2010. New York Comic Con. November 13, 2019.
- Web site: Entertainment Guests. Los Angeles Comic Con. November 13, 2019. November 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191113184006/https://www.comicconla.com/guest-category/media-guests/. dead.
- News: Anime Star. Liebenson. Donald. Chicago Tribune. March 23, 2000. February 2, 2016. February 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160206181210/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-03-23/features/0003230299_1_pokemon-rachael-lillis-voice. live.
- Web site: News Briefs. April 24, 1999. Anime News Network. July 8, 2014. August 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140810161629/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1999-04-24/news-briefs. live.
- Web site: Kare Kano Dub List. March 27, 2002. Anime News Network. January 30, 2012. June 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120616144647/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-03-27/kare-kano-dub-list. live.
- Web site: Ten Years Later: Space Symphony Maetel Anime Series. Washington. Darius. December 2, 2014. The Fandom Post. November 27, 2016. December 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191203023733/https://www.fandompost.com/2014/12/02/ten-years-later-space-symphony-maetel-anime-series/. live.
- Web site: Rachael Lillis. September 2, 2017. ANIMATE! Florida. https://web.archive.org/web/20171108065341/http://animateflorida.com:80/rachael-lillis. November 8, 2017. September 6, 2017.
- Hammerboy. 2005. DVD. Central Park Media. Closing credits, Cast.
- After Kiss. 3. Boys Be.... Boys Be.... 1. Closing credits.
- Rona Fauna. 17. The Third. The Third. 1. Closing credits.
- Web site: Gundam Unicorn Anime English Cast Announced. December 25, 2009. Anime News Network. July 28, 2011. May 11, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120511040950/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-25/gundam-unicorn-anime-english-cast-announced. live.
- Book: Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works Set 2 Booklet. Aniplex. Aniplex. February 16, 2016.
- Rachael Lillis Animation VO Demo. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Bkt2FTKjah4 . 2021-12-21 . live. Rachael Lillis Voiceover. YouTube. May 24, 2015. 2:40. June 17, 2018.
- Rachael Lillis as Tomoe Ame in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bjqNge4QVco . 2021-12-21 . live. Rachael Lillis Voiceover. YouTube. June 27, 2019. 2:40. November 13, 2019.
- Web site: R.I.P. Rachael Lillis: 'Pokémon' And 'Winx Club' Voice Actor Dead At 46 Decider . 2024-08-14 . en-US . August 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240817114800/https://decider.com/2024/08/12/rip-rachael-lillis-pokemon-and-winx-club-voice-actor-dead-46/ . live .
- Super Smash Bros.. 1999. Closing credits, 0:54 in, Voice Actors. Nintendo.
- Web site: 2024-08-12 . The original Pokemon movie actor behind Misty and Jessie, Rachael Lillis, has died . 2024-08-14 . Yahoo Entertainment . en-US . August 14, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240814155326/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/original-pokemon-movie-actor-behind-152607937.html . live .
- Web site: Valkyrie Profile (2000) . behindthevoiceactors.com . 20 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613182449/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Valkyrie-Profile/ . 13 June 2021 . web.archive.org.
- . Super Smash Bros. Melee . . Ending credits, 0:26 . 2001.
- Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures. 2013. Closing credits, 10:25 in, English Voice Talent. Monkey Bar Games.
- Lego Jurassic World. 2015. Closing credits, 6:15 in, Voice Cast. TT Fusion.
- Web site: Rachael Lillis. Live Oak Media. November 13, 2019. September 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924205954/https://www.liveoakmedia.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=177&Name=Rachael+Lillis. live.
- Apocalypse Zero. 2001. DVD. Media Blasters. Closing credits.
- Gokudo - The Complete Series. 2016. DVD. Discotek Media. Closing credits.
- Boogiepop Phantom - Complete TV Series. 2012. DVD. Media Blasters. Closing credits.
- K.O. Beast. 2003. DVD. The Right Stuf International. 1. Closing credits.
- Cleopatra D.C.. 2002. DVD. Media Blasters. Closing credits.