Japanese media has reported the April 12th passing of 86-year-old narrator/voice actor Ōhira Tōru, whose work dates back to a 1955 dub of the 40s American Superman cartoon, which has been described as the first dubbed program to air on Japanese TV. He voiced five characters for the production, including both Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Later work included classics like Hakushon Daimaō (The Genie Family), Dr. Nanbu Kōzaburō (Gatchaman) and Moguro Fukuzō (The Laughing Salesman), and more recently Gaimon (One Piece).

He also voice provided the Japanese voices for the self-destruct instructions in Mission Impossible, Homer in the Simpsons and Darth Vader.

Some tributes

via Nippon.com



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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.