Jedi Joker

Remembering the voice acting legends we lost in 2026 ❤️🕊️ Eric Bauza — The modern voice behind some of the most beloved Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and Road Runner. A three-time Children's & Family Emmy winner, Bauza helped carry the legacy of classic animation into a new generation. Michael McFarland — For many English-speaking anime fans, his Master Roshi became an unforgettable part of Dragon Ball. He also voiced Yajirobe, Baby Vegeta, Buggy the Clown in One Piece, and Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, while contributing extensively as an ADR director. Peter Cullen — The voice that became inseparable from Optimus Prime, giving the Autobot leader his strength, wisdom, dignity, and compassion for more than four decades. He was also the beloved Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh and contributed iconic vocal work to Predator. Tim Curry — A performer whose extraordinary range took him from Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Pennywise in It to Wadsworth in Clue, while his voice brought characters such as Nigel Thornberry and Captain Hook to life. His career spanned stage, film, television, and animation. Hayden Panettiere — From Claire Bennet in Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville to Kairi in the Kingdom Hearts games, Panettiere became part of both television and gaming history. Her career began as a child, meaning many fans had watched her grow up alongside them. Daveigh Chase — The voice of Chihiro in Spirited Away, Lilo in Lilo & Stitch and the chilling Samara Morgan in The Ring. Those two unforgettable performances alone showed an extraordinary range, taking her from one of animation's most beloved children to one of horror's most recognizable figures. Tom Kane — One of the most prolific voices in animation and gaming, Kane became especially beloved as Yoda, Admiral Yularen, and the narrator of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He narrated all 132 episodes of the series and also voiced Professor Utonium in The Powerpuff Girls, Woodhouse in Archer, and countless other characters. Michael Donovan — A veteran Canadian voice actor, director, and casting director whose work became familiar to anime fans through Master Roshi in Dragon Ball, Ryoga Hibiki in Ranma ½, and characters in Inuyasha, Fate/Zero, and Ronin Warriors. His career also extended across Western animation and voice direction. Catherine O’Hara — A comedy legend whose unforgettable performances included Moira Rose in Schitt’s Creek, Kate McCallister in Home Alone, and Delia Deetz in Beetlejuice. She also became a memorable voice performer as Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as roles in Frankenweenie, Elemental, and The Wild Robot. Different voices. Different careers. Different generations. But they all left behind something remarkably similar: A character we remember. A performance we can still hear. A piece of our lives connected to something they helped create. Years from now, someone will press play on Dragon Ball, Transformers, Star Wars, Looney Tunes, Lilo & Stitch, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Heroes, Schitt’s Creek, or one of the countless other worlds they helped shape. Thank you for the memories. ❤️🕊️

We lost three legendary voices in 2026, but their work will never be forgotten 🕊️ In 2026, we said goodbye to Peter Cullen, Tom Kane, and Eric Bauza, three voice actors whose work reached across generations and helped define some of the characters millions grew up with. Peter Cullen gave the world the unmistakable voice of Optimus Prime and the beloved melancholy of Eeyore, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in animation history. Tom Kane became a defining voice of Professor Utonium, and throughout the Star Wars universe, most notably as Yoda and Admiral Ackbar, while also narrating every episode of The Clone Wars and lending his voice to countless other characters. And Eric Bauza, who passed away at just 46, carried the legacy of classic animation into a new generation as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Road Runner and many more. His work earned him three Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. Their voices could sound completely different, but they shared something important: the ability to make fictional characters feel alive. Optimus Prime, Yoda, Bugs Bunny and countless others will continue speaking through the performances they left behind. We may have lost the voices, but we will never lose the characters they gave us. Their work will keep speaking for generations to come. 🕊️❤️