Steve Phillips 🎙

Remembering the voice acting legends we lost in 2026 ❤️🕊️ Eric Bauza — The modern voice behind some of the most beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and Road Runner. A three-time Children's & Family Emmy winner, Bauza helped carry the legacy of classic animation into a new generation. Michael McFarland — For many English-speaking anime fans, his Master Roshi became an unforgettable part of Dragon Ball. He also voiced Yajirobe, Baby Vegeta, Buggy the Clown in One Piece, and Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, while contributing extensively as an ADR director. Peter Cullen — The voice that became inseparable from Optimus Prime, giving the Autobot leader his strength, wisdom, dignity, and compassion for more than four decades. He was also the beloved Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and contributed iconic vocal work to Predator. Tim Curry — A performer whose extraordinary range took him from Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise in It to Wadsworth in Clue, while his voice brought characters such as Nigel Thornberry and Captain Hook to life. His career spanned stage, film, television, and animation. Hayden Panettiere — From Claire Bennet in Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville to Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts games, Panettiere became part of both television and gaming history. Her career began as a child, meaning many fans had watched her grow up alongside them. Daveigh Chase — The voice of Chihiro in Spirited Away, Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and the chilling Samara Morgan in The Ring. Those two unforgettable performances alone showed an extraordinary range, taking her from one of animation's most beloved children to one of horror's most recognizable figures. Tom Kane — One of the most prolific voices in animation and gaming, Kane became especially beloved as Yoda, Admiral Yularen, and the narrator of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He narrated all 132 episodes of the series and also voiced Professor Utonium in The Powerpuff Girls, Woodhouse in Archer, and countless other characters. Michael Donovan — A veteran Canadian voice actor, director, and casting director whose work became familiar to anime fans through Master Roshi in Dragon Ball, Ryoga Hibiki in Ranma ½, and characters in Inuyasha, Fate/Zero, and Ronin Warriors. His career also extended across Western animation and voice direction. Catherine O’Hara — A comedy legend whose unforgettable performances included Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, Kate McCallister in Home Alone, and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice. She also became a memorable voice performer as Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as roles in Frankenweenie, Elemental, and The Wild Robot. Different voices. Different careers. Different generations. But they all left behind something remarkably similar: A character we remember. A performance we can still hear. A piece of our lives connected to something they helped create. Years from now, someone will press play on Dragon Ball, Transformers, Star Wars, Looney Tunes, Lilo & Stitch, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Heroes, Schitt’s Creek, or one of the countless other worlds they helped shape. Thank you for the memories. ❤️🕊️