Rachael Lillis, a renowned voice actress best known for her roles in the Pokémon series, has passed away at the age of 46 after a battle with breast cancer. The announcement of her death was made by fellow voice actress Veronica Taylor, who is famous for voicing Ash Ketchum.
Lillis’s contributions to the beloved franchise included voicing key characters like Misty and Jessie, along with numerous others throughout the Pokémon TV series, films, and video games since the late 1990s. Taylor expressed her sorrow on social media, highlighting Lillis’s extraordinary talent and the joy she brought to fans during Saturday morning cartoons and after-school programming. She noted Lillis’s appreciation for the support she received during her illness, stating that it made a significant impact on her journey.
Laurie Orr, Lillis’s sister, confirmed the news on a GoFundMe page created earlier this year to assist with medical expenses and transitioning Lillis into a nursing home. Orr expressed her grief over her sister’s sudden passing, sharing that Lillis’s health had declined rapidly. The fundraising page has since surpassed $100,000, reflecting the outpouring of support from fans who remembered Lillis as a bright light in their lives.
Lillis, who was born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, trained in opera at university before embarking on her career as a voice actress. She lent her voice to 423 episodes of Pokémon between 1997 and 2015 and also took on the role of Jigglypuff, appearing in various projects including the 2019 film Detective Pikachu and the Super Smash Bros video game series.