{{Short description|American voice actor (1954–2025)}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = James Carter Cathcart | birth_name = | image = James Carter Cathcart.jpg | birth_date = {{birth date|1954|3|8}} | birth_place = Michigan City, Indiana, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|8|1954|3|8}} | death_place = New York City, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Voice actor|script adaptor|voice director|pianist|vocalist}} | years_active = 1981–2023 | caption = Cathcart in 2017 | other_names = {{ubl|Billy Beach|Carter Cathcart|Nicole Cathcart|Jimmy Zoppe|Jimmy Zoppi<ref name="archive1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/james-carter-cathcart-dies-71-anime-voice-actor-s-cause-death-explored|work=Soap Central|title=James Carter Cathcart dies at 71: Anime voice actor's cause of death explored|last=Shaikh|first=Nida|date=2025-07-10}}</ref>}} | notable_works = | spouse = Martha Jacobi<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Carter |url=https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamescartercathcart |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=CaringBridge |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420055504/https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamescartercathcart |url-status=live }}</ref> | mother = Lyn Wilde<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lyn Oberlink|url=https://www.lakeviewfhc.com/obituaries/Lyn-Oberlink?obId=1083915|access-date=2025-07-11|website=Lakeview Funeral Home & Crematory|language=en|archive-date=February 15, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215102610/https://www.lakeviewfhc.com/obituaries/Lyn-Oberlink?obId=1083915|url-status=live}}</ref> | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instruments = {{hlist|Keyboard|guitar|vocals}} | genre = {{hlist|Rock|pop}} | past_member_of = The Laughing Dogs }} }}
'''James Carter Cathcart''' (March 8, 1954 – July 8, 2025), also known as '''Jimmy Zoppi''', was an American voice actor, script adaptor, voice director, pianist, and vocalist. He was best known for providing the English voices for Gary Oak, James, Meowth and Professor Oak in the ''Pokémon'' franchise.
==Life and career== Cathcart was born in Michigan City, Indiana, on March 8, 1954.<ref name="archive1">{{cite web|url=http://www.bigappleanimefest.com/jap/guest.htm |title=BAAFゲスト |date=2005-08-17 |accessdate=2011-05-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050817223435/http://www.bigappleanimefest.com/jap/guest.htm |archivedate=August 17, 2005 }}</ref><ref name = Walker>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/arts/television/james-carter-cathcart-dead-voice-actor-pokemon.html|title = James Carter Cathcart, Voice Behind Memorable 'Pokémon' Characters, Dies at 71|last = Walker|first = Mark|date = July 10, 2025|accessdate = July 10, 2025|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited|archive-date = July 11, 2025|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250711044610/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/arts/television/james-carter-cathcart-dead-voice-actor-pokemon.html|url-status = live}}</ref> He played with bands from the time he was in high school, including The Laughing Dogs who released two albums on Columbia in 1979–80.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/765894-The-Laughing-Dogs|title=The Laughing Dogs|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-10-03|archive-date=January 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128042648/https://www.discogs.com/artist/765894-The-Laughing-Dogs|url-status=live}}</ref>
Cathcart began his voice acting career in the 1980s when he played the character Cap'n O. G. Readmore on the ''ABC Weekend Special'' anthology series.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-10 |title=Pokémon voice actor James Carter Cathcart dies aged 71 |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/james-carter-cathcart-death-age-pokemon-b2786699.html |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> He was best known for his roles in the ''Pokémon'' franchise as characters such as Gary Oak, James, Meowth and Professor Oak. He appeared in over 15 ''Pokémon'' films and over 700 episodes of the ''Pokémon'' anime.<ref name=":1" /> He also acted in shows such as ''Sonic X'', ''Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters'', ''One Piece'', ''Kirby: Right Back at Ya!'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''Mission Odyssey'' and others.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moreau |first=Jordan |date=2025-07-10 |title=James Carter Cathcart, 'Pokemon' Star Who Voiced Prof. Oak, Gary, Meowth and James, Dies at 71 |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/obituaries-people-news/james-carter-cathcart-dead-pokemon-prof-oak-meowth-gary-1236452010/ |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=July 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250710173412/https://variety.com/2025/tv/obituaries-people-news/james-carter-cathcart-dead-pokemon-prof-oak-meowth-gary-1236452010/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also performed in the video game ''Shadow the Hedgehog''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2025-07-10 |title=James Carter Cathcart, the Voice of Pokémon's James, Meowth, Professor Oak, and More, Has Died |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/james-carter-cathcart-the-voice-of-pokemons-james-meowth-professor-oak-and-more-has-died |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>
Cathcart, who was married to Martha Jacobi, retired from voice acting in 2023 following a diagnosis of throat cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-19 |title=Pokémon's Team Rocket, Professor Oak Voice Actor Retires Due To Cancer |url=https://kotaku.com/pokemon-anime-oak-james-carter-cathcart-retire-cancer-1850353327 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Kotaku |language=en |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426173236/https://kotaku.com/pokemon-anime-oak-james-carter-cathcart-retire-cancer-1850353327 |url-status=live }}</ref> He died on July 8, 2025, while receiving hospice care at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, New York City. He was 71.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Julia |date=July 11, 2025 |title=Pokémon Voice Actor James Carter Cathcart Dies at 71 |url=https://people.com/pokemon-voice-actor-james-carter-cathcart-dies-at-71-11770375 |access-date=July 11, 2025 |work=People}}</ref> He had three children: Nicole, Mackenzie, and Carter.<ref name="Walker" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0957870|James Carter Cathcart}} * {{discogs artist|Jim Cathcart|name=Jim Cathcart}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathcart, James Carter}} Category:1954 births Category:2025 deaths Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male singers Category:American male voice actors Category:American male video game actors Category:American voice directors Category:Deaths from throat cancer in New York (state) Category:Male actors from Indiana Category:People from Michigan City, Indiana