Japan Press Network's 47 News and Nikkan Sports are both reporting on Friday that Kazuya Tatekabe, the voice actor who played the role of Gian in the 1979 Doraemon television anime series, passed away on Thursday. He was 80. The websites list the cause of death as acute respiratory failure.

Tatekabe was born in Hokkaido, and he graduated from the Nihon University College of Art's theater department. He was also a member of the theatrical troupe Izumiza.

He was most famous for his role as the bully character Gian in the second Doraemon television anime series that ran from 1979-2005. Tatekabe reprised the role for many of the Doraemon specials and films. Other roles include Tonzura in Yatterman, Warusa/Walther and Donzler in Time Bokan, Varacin in Casshan, Goriraimo in Dokonjo Gaeru, Dotechi in Hajime Ningen Gyatoruz, Chan in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and Kamon in Mister Ajikko. More recently, he played Roubaul in Fairy Tail and Colonel Tonoda in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society film.

Image via Kenyu Office

[Via Anime Voice]