Dearly Beloved, Dearly Departed - the KH voice actors who are no longer with us

[WaltK]

I decided to put together a list of all the Kingdom Hearts vocal talents who have sadly passed on, both on the English and Japanese sides.


Let me know if you think I’ve made any errors, or if you know of any I’ve left out.

ENGLISH​

WAYNE ALLWINE (1947-2009)
ROLE(S): Mickey Mouse
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (2009)*
SUCCESSOR(S): Bret Iwan
*released posthumously

ZOE CALDWELL (1933-2020)
ROLE(S): Grand Councilwoman
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

EDDIE CARROLL (1933-2010)
ROLE(S): Jiminy Cricket
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (2008)
SUCCESSOR(S): Phil Snyder and Joe Ochman

PAT CARROLL (1927-2022)
ROLE(S): Ursula
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)

JOHN FIEDLER (1925-2005)
ROLE(S): Piglet
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002)
SUCCESSOR(S): Travis Oates

GILBERT GOTTFRIED (1955-2022)
ROLE(S): Iago
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Re:coded HD (2014)

ROBERT GUILLAUME (1927-2017)
ROLE(S): Rafiki
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)

RUTGER HAUER (1944-2019)
ROLE(S): Master Xehanort
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts III (2019)
SUCCESSOR(S): Christopher Lloyd

JAMES EARL JONES (1931-2024)
ROLE(S): Mufasa
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)

CHARLES KIMBROUGH (1936-2023)
ROLE(S): Victor
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)

DAME ANGELA LANSBURY (1925-2022)
ROLE(S): Mrs. Potts
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)

SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE (1922-2015)
ROLE(S): Ansem the Wise
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006), Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (2009)
SUCCESSOR(S): Corey Burton*
*Burton previously voiced Ansem in Re:CoM when Lee was unavailable

KENNETH MARS (1935-2011)
ROLE(S): King Triton
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts II (2006)

PAT MORITA (1932-2005)
ROLE(S): Emperor of China
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)*
*released posthumously

LEONARD NIMOY (1931-2015)
ROLE(S): Master Xehanort
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)
SUCCESSOR(S): Rutger Hauer (see above)

KEN PAGE (1954-2024)
ROLE(S): Oogie Boogie
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (2008)

TONY POPE (1947-2004)
ROLE(S): Geppetto
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002)
SUCCESSOR(S): Jeff Bennett

KEN SANSOM (1927-2012)
ROLE(S): Rabbit
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)
SUCCESSOR(S): Tom Kenny

GLENN SHADIX (1952-2010)
ROLE(S): Mayor of Halloween Town
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006)

DAVID OGDEN STIERS (1942-2018)
ROLE(S): Cogsworth, Jumba, Doc
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2006) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

RUSSI TAYLOR (1944-2019)
ROLE(S): Minnie Mouse, Huey, Dewey and Louie, Fauna, Fairy Godmother, Drizella
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts III (2019)
SUCCESSOR(S): Barbara Dirikson (Godmother)

ALAN YOUNG (1919-2016)
ROLE(S): Scrooge McDuck
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
SUCCESSOR(S): Enn Reitel

JAPANESE​

MIYOKO ASO (1926-2018)
ROLE(S): Flora
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

HIROSHI ARIKAWA (1940-2011)
ROLE(S): Merlin
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
SUCCESSOR(S): Atsushi Gotō

KEIJI FUJIWARA (1964-2020)
ROLE(S): Axel/Lea
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (2004) - Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind (2020)

SAYAKA KANDA (1986-2021)
ROLE(S): Anna
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts III (2019)

KANETA KIMOTSUKI (1935-2016)
ROLE(S): Jiminy Cricket
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Re:coded HD (2014)
SUCCESSOR(S): Yōhei Tadano

MIYUKI ICHIJOU (1949-2023)
ROLE(S): Blue Fairy
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)

ATSUSHI II (1939-2020)
ROLE(S): Scrooge McDuck, Horace Horsecollar
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
SUCCESSOR(S): Mitsuru Ogata (Scrooge)

SHŌZŌ IIZUKA (1933-2023)
ROLE(S): Jumba
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

MAKIO INOUE (1938-2019)
ROLE(S): Master Eraqus
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) - Kingdom Hearts III (2019)

TARŌ ISHIDA (1944-2013)
ROLE(S): Eeyore, King Triton
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts II (2005)

TAKKŌ ISHIMORI (1932-2013)
ROLE(S): Bashful
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

UNSHŌ ISHIZUKA (1951-2018)
ROLE(S): Gantu
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

SUKEKIYO KAMEYAMA (1954-2013)
ROLE(S): Winnie the Pooh
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
SUCCESSOR(S): Mitsuaki Kanuka

OSAMU KOBAYASHI (1934-2011)
ROLE(S): Emperor of China
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005)

KAZUO KUMAKURA (1927-2015)
ROLE(S): Geppetto, Mr. Smee, Cogsworth, Doc
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)

YŪKO MIZUTANI (1964-2016)
ROLE(S): Minnie Mouse
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)

SHŪICHIRŌ MORIYAMA (1934-2021)
ROLE(S): Flotsam and Jetsam
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002)

ICHIRŌ NAGAI (1931-2014)
ROLE(S): Philoctetes, Grumpy
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

NACHI NOZAWA (1938-2010)
ROLE(S): Vexen/Evan
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (2007) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)
SUCCESSOR(S): Shigeru Chiba

TŌRU ŌHIRA (1929-2016)
ROLE(S): Mayor of Halloween Town, Pete, Julius
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)
SUCCESSOR(S): Katsuhiro Kitagawa (Pete)

CHIKAO ŌTSUKA (1929-2016)
ROLE(S): Master Xehanort, Captain Hook
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002; Hook), Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012; Xehanort)
SUCCESSOR(S): Akio Ōtsuka (Xehanort), Naoya Uchida (Hook)

TAMIO ŌKI (1928-2017)
ROLE(S): Magic Mirror
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

RYŪJI SAIKACHI (1928-2017)
ROLE(S): Rafiki, Sneezy
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005) - Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

YUU SHIMAKA (1949-2019)
ROLE(S): Goofy
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (2020)*
*released posthumously

AKIRA TAKARADA (1934-2022)
ROLE(S): Jafar
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts Re:coded HD (2014)

JUNPEI TAKIGUCHI (1931-2011)
ROLE(S): Happy
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010)

MAHITO TSUJIMURA (1930-2018)
ROLE(S): Gopher
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
SUCCESSOR(S): Kunihiro Kawamoto

KŌJI TSUJITANI (1962-2018)
ROLE(S): Woody
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts III (2019)*
*released posthumously

MINORU UCHIDA (1927-2018)
ROLE(S): Merlin
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
SUCCESSOR(S): Hiroshi Arikawa (see above)

TOSHIYA UEDA (1933-2022)
ROLE(S): Owl
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005)

GENZO WAKAYAMA (1932-2021)
ROLE(S): Ansem the Wise, Zeus
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts II (2005) - Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (2020)

SHUN YASHIRO (1933-2003)
ROLE(S): Winnie the Pooh
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002)
SUCCESSOR(S): Sukekiyo Kameyama (see above)

 

[Face My Fears]

RIP :'(

I will always appreciate their work on the series and using their talents to bring a masterpiece to life.

 

[KingdomKurdistan]

Rutger and Leonard were a double hammer-blow to the heart. Devastating losses for cinema and, of course, the character of Xehanort.

Despite what Rutger's character believes in this legendary monologue below, they won't be lost like tears in rain.

 

[Elysium]

I didn't know Zoe Caldwell, Pat Morita, and Ken Sansom had passed away. A shame when most of the Disney voice actors go, because they are always difficult to replace. It's hard to hear Triton voiced by someone else in Ariel's Beginning, for example (Mars was still alive when it was made, but he must've declined because of age or health possibly?).

 

[MATGSY]

CHIKAO ŌTSUKA (1929-2016)
ROLE(S): Master Xehanort, Captain Hook
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2001; Hook), Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012; Xehanort)
SUCCESSOR(S): Akio Ōtsuka (Xehanort), Naoya Uchida (Hook)

Always kinda weird that he didn't play Hook in BBS, like they didn't want MX sharing the voice of a "lesser" villain or something.

I didn't know Zoe Caldwell, Pat Morita, and Ken Sansom had passed away. A shame when most of the Disney voice actors go, because they are always difficult to replace. It's hard to hear Triton voiced by someone else in Ariel's Beginning, for example (Mars was still alive when it was made, but he must've declined because of age or health possibly?).

Pat Morita's passing is kinda obvious if you're watching Cobra Kai. They totally would've had him on the show by now if he were still with us.

 

[Elysium]

I don't know what Cobra Kai is, so yeah.

 

[MATGSY]

I don't know what Cobra Kai is, so yeah.

Streaming series on Netflix that's a continuation of the Karate Kid films. The show is really freaking good, of the "better than it has any right to be" variety.

 

[Soldier]

Jeez, when you think about it, Master Xehanort's lost a lot of voice actors in just 2 decades. I hope that doesn't become a reoccuring trend/Nomura keeps using him, it must be hard to find someone to replace them.

Though in their passing it has led to more star power arriving to the KH series, notably Tom Kenny voicing Rabbit.

 

[WaltK]

Oh wow, thank you for making this a pinned topic, mods! I’ll try my best to keep the OP updated if I find anymore information.

 

[KudoTsurugi]

So many brilliant actors and actresses in these roles. May they rest in peace

Also, an update on Fujiwara, his role as Axel/Lea started with the original Chain of Memories. While KH2 was his first full speaking role as the character, he did provide the voice for his battle cries in the GBA game.

 

[KH_Is_Light_999]

Jeez, when you think about it, Master Xehanort's lost a lot of voice actors in just 2 decades. I hope that doesn't become a reoccuring trend/Nomura keeps using him, it must be hard to find someone to replace them.

Though in their passing it has led to more star power arriving to the KH series, notably Tom Kenny voicing Rabbit.

Yeah, it is kind of strange to see how many voice actors have played Master Xehanort. I personally feel like all his voiceovers have been pretty good, even if some of them sounded different from others.

Also, just out of curiosity, is that the same Tom Kenny who voiced both Spongebob and Spyro the dragon? If it is, that is way cool that he had a part in Kingdom Hearts! (I watched a lot of Spongebob growing up, and Spyro is one of my all time favorite 3D platformers -- especially the original three made by Insomniac and the remastered versions by Toys for Bob).

 

[WaltK]

Also, just out of curiosity, is that the same Tom Kenny who voiced both Spongebob and Spyro the dragon?

The one and only. He’s been playing him since 2011.

 

[Soldier]

The one and only. He’s been playing him since 2011.

With him as Rabbit, that technically means Spongebob and Spyro have been in a Kingdom Hearts game, think about that.

 

[PikaPal]

KEN SANSOM (1927-2012)
ROLE(S): Rabbit
DURATION: Kingdom Hearts (2002) - Kingdom Hearts II (2006)
SUCCESSOR(S): Tom Kenny

Still my favorite VA for Rabbit.

 

[WaltK]

Just throwing it out there, does anyone have any suggestions for how to improve the OP, or do you think it’s fine the way it is?

 

[AdrianXXII]

Just throwing it out there, does anyone have any suggestions for how to improve the OP, or do you think it’s fine the way it is?

I think it's fine how it is. It's a lovely tribute to all the late talent that have graced this series.

 

[WaltK]

I just realised that Yuu Shamaka is credited for voicing Goofy in the Japanese version of MoM, but he only has one, very short line, and a couple of grunts.

What I’d like to know is if this was a new performance by Shamaka (making MoM a posthumous release) or if they simply recycled an old performance for this very short line.

EDIT: also, it is my sad duty to report the first new death for this list.

Japanese actor Shūichirō Moriyama passed away on the 8th of this month.

He played both Flotsam and Jetsam in the original Kingdom Hearts, roles he reprised from the Japanese dub of The Little Mermaid.

Other noteable voice acting roles under his belt include the titular character of the Studio Ghibli movie Porco Rosso, and King Gourmeth in the first Dragon Ball movie “Curse of the Blood Rubies”.

He’d also had other roles under both Disney and Square Enix; for the former, he voiced Percival McLeach in the Japanese dub of The Rescuers Down Under, and for the latter, he voiced Cid Aulstyne in Final Fantasy Type-0.

 

[WaltK]

Updated with a Japanese voice actor I missed: Mahito Tsujimura, voice of Gopher in KH2.

 

[WaltK]

A recent post in another thread got me thinking, maybe I should expand this thing to include everyone involved in bringing these games to life?

Voice actors are the most noticeable contributors to the series, but that’s nothing compared to the hundreds of developers, programmers, producers, and god knows what else who put each game together.

Thoughts?

 

[AdrianXXII]

Sounds like a nice idea