Voice of Chef Zeff, Dragon Ball Z 's Doctor Gero passed away on Thursday at age 81 due to chronic kidney failure

Japanese voice acting agency Aoni Production announced on Thursday that voice actor Kouji Yada passed away at the age of 81 at 2:19 p.m. that day due to chronic kidney failure. The agency expressed its thanks to fans for their support for Yada during his lifetime.

Fellow Aoni Production voice actor Tetsu Inada wrote on his Twitter account, "It wasn't my line, but, 'I've been in your care so damn much! I will never forget everything you've done for me!'" (a quote from the One Piece character Sanji toward Yada's character Zeff)

Yada began voice acting in 1965 as an extra in Uchū Ace , and is possibly best known for his roles as Doctor Gero in the Dragon Ball Z franchise and Talan in Uchū Senkan Yamato (Star Blazers). He also played Libra Dohko in Saint Seiya, and Sniper in Ginga Nagareboshi Gin. One of his final roles was reprising his role as Chef Zeff in the One Piece anime special, One Piece Episode of Merry: Mō Hitori no Nakama no Monogatari, approximately 13 years after he first played the character in the TV anime in 2000.

Via [0takomu]