Rachael Lillis (July 8, 1969 – August 10, 2024) was an American voice actress. She was best known for her performances as Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff in the first eight seasons of the English dub of the TV series Pokémon. She also provided voices for many other animation works and video games.

Early life Rachael Lillis was born to John and Constance Lillis (née Zafuto) in Niagara Falls, New York, on July 8, 1969. Her father served in the U.S. Navy and was a maintenance manager. She was the youngest of six children. Lillis and her family later moved to Plano, Texas. Lillis attended Smith College, where she was a premed student. She trained in opera before she became a voice actor. She studied voice acting in Boston and moved to New York City in 1996. She cited Mel Blanc and June Foray among her influences.

Career Lillis became known for voicing Misty and Jessie in the English dub of the Pokémon anime. She also voiced Pokémon such as Goldeen, Jigglypuff, Vulpix and Venonat on the show. Lillis appeared in 423 Pokémon episodes. She voiced various Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. video games. She was also the voice of Utena Tenjo in Revolutionary Girl Utena, and voiced characters in Winx Club, Hunter × Hunter, Your Lie in April and Gall Force, among other shows.

Lillis's last voice acting role was in Hunter × Hunter: The Last Mission. According to Veronica Taylor, Lillis had difficulty finding work during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to a lack of recording equipment at her home.

In 2023, Lillis attended a Pokémon cast reunion in London.

Illness and death In May 2024, a GoFundMe campaign created by Lillis's sister announced that Lillis had developed breast cancer. Several of her fellow actors shared the campaign to help raise money for her care. The campaign raised $98,000 by the time she died, with the money going towards Lillis's remaining bills, a memorial service and cancer research. The cancer spread to her spine, which left her barely able to walk, and she eventually moved into a Los Angeles nursing home to receive care.

Lillis died on August 10, 2024, at the age of 55. In 2025, money was raised to donate a bench in her honor in Central Park's Upper West Side. It is #7603 on the path between 106th St and 108th St off Central Park West.

Filmography

Voice roles

Film + List of voice performances in filmsYearTitleRole Notes Refs1999Pokémon: The First MovieMisty, Jessie, Vulpix, Venonat, Goldeen, Jigglypuff2000Pokémon: The Movie 20002001Night on the Galactic RailroadMarceauPokémon: Mewtwo ReturnsMisty, Jessie, Jigglypuff, Vulpix, GoldeenPokémon 3: Spell of the UnownRevolutionary Girl Utena: The MovieUtena Tenjō2002Pokémon 4EverMisty, Jessie, Jigglypuff, Vulpix, Goldeen, Torchic, Beautifly2003Pokémon Heroes2004Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker2005Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys2006Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew2012Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I The Egg of the KingPrincess Charlotte2017Fate/stay night: Heaven's FeelSellaHome video edition only; later replaced by Julia McIlvaine in Heaven's Feel III. spring song 2019Hunter × Hunter: The Last MissionCoccoLast role. Pokémon Detective PikachuJigglypuffArchival recording

Anime + List of dubbing performances in animeYearTitleRole Notes Refs1997Takegami: Guardian of DarknessSatsuki First principal role in a series1998The SlayersCally, PaulaRevolutionary Girl UtenaUtena Tenjō, Chu Chu1998–2006PokémonMisty, Jessie, Jigglypuff, Pikachu (rarely), various1999Slayers NextMartina Zoana Mel Navratilova, Kira2000GeobreedersTakumi SakuraiIrresponsible Captain TylorYuriko Star, NorikoShamanic PrincessMimi Joyman, Suzanna WhiteBoogiepop PhantomNagi Kirima, Manaka KisaragiRG Veda Ashura Central Park Media DubGokudo Miroku, Mora, NihiHarlock SagaFrickaTwin SignalElara, Number 32002BerserkPrincess CharlotteHis and Her CircumstancesMiyako Mizawa, Aya Sawada, variousMaetel LegendQueen La Andromeda PrometheumNow and Then, Here and ThereBoo, SisVoltage Fighter GowcaizerOmni Exist2003Alien NineMiyu TamakiDNA²Ami KurimotoK.O. BeastV-SionSonic XDanny2003–2006Animation Runner KuromiMai Horaguchi2004Comic PartyMizuki TakaseGravitationAyaka UsamiNana Seven of SevenHitomi Onodera, Mitsuko SuzukiShrine of the Morning MistShizuka MidohWorld of NarueKanaka Nanase, Miss Īzuka2005HammerboyPoplarMidori DaysHaruka KasuganoMew Mew PowerGym Team GirlShingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars Momoe Sanemori2005–2010GenshikenKanako Ono2006Boys Be...Aya KuriharaPokémon ChroniclesMisty, Jessie2007Dinosaur KingDr. Reese Drake, Ursula, LauraThe Third: The Girl with the Blue EyeRona Fauna2008Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and DarknessSunflora, Shinx brother2010Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornMicott Bartsch2011BakumanAmy2015Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade WorksSellaAs Rachael McCabe2016Your Lie in AprilRyoko Miyazono2016–2019Hunter × HunterMito Freecss, Cocco

Animation + List of voice performances in animationYearTitleRole Notes Refs2001–2003CubixHela Nemo2003Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTomoe Ame2004Shadow of the ElvesThalia2004–2006Winx ClubHeadmistress Faragonda, various4Kids dub2006–2010ChaoticIntress

Video games + List of voice performances in video gamesYearTitleRole Notes Refs 1999Super Smash Bros. JigglypuffGrouped under Voice Actors2000Pokémon Puzzle LeagueMisty, Jessie, JigglypuffValkyrie ProfileJelanda, Lyseria, Mystina2001Super Smash Bros. MeleeJigglypuffGrouped under Voices 2003Ape Escape 2NatalieNorth American English dub2008Super Smash Bros. BrawlJigglypuff, GoldeenGrouped under Character Voice2014Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U2015Lego Jurassic World As Rachael McCabe2018Super Smash Bros. UltimateJigglypuff, GoldeenGrouped under Character Voices

Audiobooks + List of voice performances in audiobooksYearTitleAuthor Notes Refs2005Diary of a Fairy GodmotherEsme Raji Codell2006Miss Watson Wants Your TeethAlison McGhee

Production credits

Script adaptation YearTitleMediumNotesRefs2001Apocalypse ZeroTVGokudoTelevision2002Boogiepop PhantomTelevision2003K.O. BeastTelevision

Translator YearTitleMediumNotesRefs2002Cleopatra DCTelevision

References

Notes

External links

Rachael Lillis at the CrystalAcids Anime Voice Actor Database Rachael Lillis at Live Oak Media audiobooks