Rachael Lillis, an American voice actress and scriptwriter, was diagnosed with breast cancer for a long time, which ultimately took her life at the age of 46.
Her family announced the news of Rachael Lillis’s demise via GoFundMe, where her sisters wrote, “With a heavy heart, I regret to say that Rachael has passed away. She passed peacefully Saturday night, without pain, and for that, we are grateful.”
Though Rachael Lillis is no longer with us, her amazing work as a Pokemon voice actress will remain with people.
Rachael Lillis, the original English voice actor for Misty and Jessie from Pokémon, has died age 46 from cancer pic.twitter.com/NZq6SBBukD
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) August 12, 2024
After her passing, many other high-profile personalities and voice actors paid tribute, and people on social media sites expressed condolences for her family.
Eric Stuart, who voiced James in the Pokemon series and has worked with Rachael Lillis for a long time, told The New York Times that Rachael was a pretty low-key, kind of quiet, and sweet girl.
Another great voice actress, Veronica Taylor, took to her x handle, writing, “I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end.”
Rachael Lillis’s sister, who was the one to announce her cancer, wrote, ‘My heart breaks losing my dear little sister!’
As people mentioned, Rachael Lillis has always been a private person and preferred keeping her personal life away from the media.
Therefore, Rachael Lillis and her family had hidden about her breast cancer diagnosis for a long time. However, after the diagnosis, things started getting out of hand as her health and financial condition both got worse day by day.
Rachael Lillis, best known as the original English voice actor for Pokémon's Misty and Jessie, has died at the age of 46 after battling cancer. pic.twitter.com/PfwvdqDYxw
— IGN (@IGN) August 12, 2024
In May 2024, the family decided to go public as Rachael Lillis’s sister released a GoFundMe post asking for financial support from the fans who have known her and grew up watching her works while revealing she is in serious condition due to cancer.
As per the GoFundMe post, their goal was to raise $100,000, but people donated more than that as they raised a total of $100,261 USD.
However, even after the public support, she could not make it, as her sister later announced her tragic passing on August 10, 2024, through the same post.
She deeply appreciated the support from the public and shared they would use the collected funds to pay for her medical bills and a memorial service.
¡Siempre recordaremos tu voz! 🥹🕊️✨
— Azteca 7 (@AztecaSiete) August 13, 2024
Rachael Lillis, actriz de doblaje que prestó su voz para darle vida a personajes que marcaron la infancia de muchos, tienes nuestro respeto y admiración. pic.twitter.com/AMrrJRIVee
In the end, she mentioned, “My heart breaks losing my dear little sister, though I am comforted knowing she is free.”
Rachael Lillis will always be in the heart of her loving parents, Constance Lillis and John Lillis, sisters Colleen King, Brenda Lillis, Pamela Lillis Robertson, Jacqueline Lillis, and Ms. Orr., and fans who grew up watching her shows.
Additional Information
- Rachael Lillis was born on July 8, 1978, in Niagara Falls, New York, to a family with parents: mother, Constance Lillis, who was a homemaker, and her father, John Lillis, who retired from maintenance management and from the Navy.
- According to the sources, Rachael Lillis is her parents’ youngest of six children. Her sisters are Colleen King, Brenda Lillis, Pamela Lillis Robertson, Jacqueline Lillis, and Ms. Orr.
- Despite voicing Pokémon, she voiced anime characters that included anime franchises in the 1990s, including Catty in Gall Force and Utena Tenjô in the television series Revolutionary Girl Utena.
