Unshō Ishizuka, who voiced the character of Professor Oak in Pokemon has died at 67, Anime News Network reports.

#News Voice Actor Unshō Ishizuka Passes Away at 68 • Voice of Cowboy Bebop's Jet Black, Pokémon's Professor Oak, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure's old Joseph Joestar #anime https://t.co/xdfd0u1JKE - Anime News Network (@Anime) August 17, 2018

The official website for talent website Aoni Production revealed on Friday that the voice actor had died on Monday after a battle with Oesophageal cancer, having been receiving medical treatment for some time for the cancer.

His relatives have apparently already held a private wake and funeral, but a public farewell ceremony is also planned.

Advert

Ishizuka had many voice roles since his debut in 1984, including many starring roles in anime. Along with the role of Professor Oak and several other characters in the Pokemon franchise, he was also known for his work as Mr. Satan in Dragon Ball Super; and Joseph Joestar in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable.

Credit: Pokemon

More recently, he had also voiced characters including Willibard Joachim von Merkatz in The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These, Dino Golzine in Banana Fish, Cain Ibrahim Hassan in Last Hope, and the narrator in Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online.

As well as his work in the anime industry, Anime News Network reports that Ishizuka also featured in Japanese dubs of Western films - including some that involved dubbing roles played by Liam Neeson and Laurence Fishburne.

Advert