RIP James Carter Cathcart, Longtime POKÉMON Voice Actor
Credited under a handful of names — including Carter Cathcart, Billy Beach, Jimmy Zoppi and more — some might be surprised to learn that Cathcart was also the voice behind characters like Fergus, the fiercely confident Water-type Trainer from Pokémon: The First Movie and its 2019 remake Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution. The actor voiced several Pokémon throughout the TV and video game series, to boot. (Remember the Snubbull from the Pikachu's Vacation short in The First Movie ? Yeah, that was him, too.) POKÉMON: THE FIRST MOVIE – MEWTWO STRIKES BACK. Photo courtesy of Pokémon TV.
But Cathcart's work went beyond the world of Pokémon . He famously voiced Weevil Underwood in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Vector the Crocodile from Sonic X. His voice can also be heard in a long list of video games and animated series, including One Piece .
RELATED: 10 Women Who Voice Popular Male Characters
To say the actor played a major role in childhoods everywhere is an understatement. Like the characters he brought to life, Cathcart is beloved by fans and will be sorely missed by those who grew up hearing his voice every Saturday morning. Or, in the case of younger fans, anytime a new season of Pokémon dropped on Netflix. A Voice of a Generation POKÉMON THE SERIES: BLACK AND WHITE Season 14 Episode 6, 'Dreams by the Yard Full.' Photo courtesy of Tubi.
James Carter Cathcart was a part of Pokémon for most of its ongoing run, spanning nearly three decades. He'd already been attached to a string of voice acting gigs prior to his Pokémon debut. However, he'd go on to reprise the roles of Gary, Professor Oak, James and Meowth through 2023. And let's not forget the countless Pokémon he voiced in games like Pokémon Snap, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Pokémon Masters over the years.
Like many '90s kids, I was also a Pokémon kid. I'm still a massive fan today. When I look back on decades spent watching the animated series and playing through every game I could get my hands on, Cathcart's voice is among the easiest to recall. James and Meowth (and Gary, if you're asking 10-year-old me) were the bad guys, for all intents and purposes. But it's tough to separate Team Rocket and Ash's first rival from our protagonists.
RELATED: Switch 2 Doesn't Fix Pokémon's Biggest Problem
Team Rocket was there, episode after episode, season after season, always hatching a new scheme to steal Pikachu or make a quick buck. Oftentimes, their ill-advised plans would take them to the same place as Ash and his friends. Like the time they all wound up inside a mansion 'haunted' by a lonely Espurr in Pokémon XY , just as scared as the 'twerps' right there with them. There's no shortage of episodes that show us a more sympathetic side to Team Rocket's most famous trio. Sometimes, we even find ourselves rooting for them during the rare moments in which they side with our heroes. Thank You, James Carter Cathcart POKÉMON THE SERIES: BLACK AND WHITE Season 14 Episode 27, 'The Dragon Master's Path.' Photo courtesy of Tubi.
There's no removing James Carter Cathcart from these unforgettable journeys. In a big way, he made them what they were. Who could ever forget a talking Meowth (with a Brooklyn accent, no less)? As the journey continues, it only makes sense to thank Cathcart for his talent, versatility and the countless memories he's given fans of Pokémon and the many other series in which his voice can be heard. It's time for a re-watch.
Pokémon: The First Movie is now streaming for free on the official Pokémon TV YouTube channel. You can also find the original animated series and Pokémon the Series: XY on Netflix.
Anime Roundup: Everything Coming Out in July 2025 (Part 1) Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough.
E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coldplay fan who filmed viral 'kiss cam' clip breaks silence with savage six-word response
The Coldplay fan who inadvertently filmed a married tech CEO and his colleague in an awkward moment during a concert in Boston has broken her silence. Grace Springer, 28, captured the now-viral video when Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and his company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, appeared on the venue's kiss cam during Coldplay's performance. Martin was working the crowd using the 'kiss cam' when the camera zoomed in on the couple cuddled up in the stands at the Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night. 'Ooh look at these two!' Martin said, as the couple appeared on screen. The pair appeared distinctly uncomfortable when they spotted themselves live on the big screen in front of tens of thousands of fans. Seconds later, they panicked. Byron then swiftly ducked behind a barrier while Cabot turned away, in an attempt to shield her face. Martin, watching their reaction, added dryly: 'Oh what... either they're having an affair or they're very shy.' As the video quickly went viral, the pair were swiftly identified, in part due to Byron's public profile as the CEO of Astronomer, a billion-dollar tech company focused on analytics, AI, and software. Cabot, though not as publicly known, was also recognised through her role as Astronomer's Chief People Officer, also known as head of HR. In the wake of online furore, multiple outlets including Page Six reported that Byron is married with two kids, while Kristin Cabot allegedly is recently divorced. Following the backlash, the company appeared to remove its online announcement of Cabot's appointment, which had been published just nine months earlier in November 2024. Now speaking to The Sun US, Springer said she had no idea the short video, which has racked up more than 49 million views, would spark such intense speculation and attention. 'I had no idea who the couple was,' Springer told the outlet. 'Just thought I caught an interesting reaction to the kiss cam and decided to post it.' 'A part of me feels bad for turning these people's lives upside down, but, play stupid games… win stupid prizes,' she added, referencing a Taylor Swift lyric from Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince. Neither Byron nor Cabot have commented on the incident. 'I hope their partners can heal from this and get a second chance at the happiness they deserve with their future still in front of them,' Springer continued. 'I hope, for them, my video was a blessing in disguise.' The viral moment took place during Coldplay's Music of the Spheres world tour, which has already pulled in over £100 million in earnings this year. The band's tenth studio album, Moon Music, is expected later this year, featuring collaborations with Burna Boy and Ayra Starr. Meanwhile, Martin - who recently split from actress Dakota Johnson after eight years together - has hinted Coldplay will stop making new albums after their twelfth. 'Less is more,' he said in a recent interview, vowing to preserve quality over quantity. 'And for some of our critics, even less would be even more.'
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump says he 'absolutely loves' that CBS canceled Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show'
WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump cheered the cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert," one day after the comedian and frequent Trump critic announced CBS would be ending his show. "I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," Trump said in a July 18 Truth Social post, before also ripping ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, another late-night host known to skewer Trump. "I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert." Trump added that conservative Fox News personality and comedian Greg Gutfield ‒ host of Gutfeld! and co-host of The Five ‒ "is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show." Trump previously worked for NBC during his days as the star on "The Apprentice." More: 'Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to end next May: 'This is all just going away' Colbert, 61, announced the cancellation of the iconic show, which comedian David Letterman hosted for two decades prior to Colbert, before its studio audience on July 17 at New York City's Ed Sullivan Theater. 'Late Show' will continue for one more season and end in May 2026. "It's not just the end of our show, it's the end of the 'Late Show' on CBS," said Colbert, who has hosted the show since 2015, adding that, "I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away." The move comes after Paramount Global, CBS's parent company, agreed on July 1 to a controversial $16 million settlement with Trump over a defamation lawsuit tied to a "60 Minutes" interview with 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Democrats and Colbert fans speculated whether politics could have played a role in the network's decision given the comedian's history of targeting Trump. More: Jimmy Kimmel irate over Colbert cancellation, criticizes CBS ending 'Late Show' "Just finished taping with Stephen Colbert who announced his show was cancelled," U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, said in a post on X. "If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better. More: From Joe Rogan to Greg Gutfeld, conservative comedy's influence grows The traditional late-night shows on the three big networks have faced increasing challenges for viewers amid the rapid rise of streaming options. Paramount in a statement called the move "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content, or other matters happening at Paramount." "We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire 'The Late Show' franchise at that time," the statement said. "We are proud that Stephen called CBS home." Contributing: Bryan Alexander of USA TODAY Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump cheers CBS for canceling Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Here's What Donald Trump Had To Say About Stephen Colbert's Talk Show Being Canceled
Yesterday, it was announced that CBS had canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after 10 years on air. Stephen made the stunning announcement to fans on the July 17 episode of the show. He told the audience, "I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending The Late Show in May." When the audience groaned in response, Stephen added, "Yeah, I share your feelings. It's not just the end of our show, but it's the end of The Late Show on CBS. I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away." Related: The abrupt announcement immediately raised questions, with some speculating the move was political in nature. Just days earlier, Stephen had criticized CBS's parent company, Paramount, for settling a $16 million defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump regarding edits to a 2024 interview with Kamala Harris. However, the company insisted it was "purely a financial decision." "We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire 'The Late Show' franchise' in May of 2026,' CBS officials said in a statement, which was shared with Variety. 'We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television. This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.' Related: The cancellation prompted widespread reactions from fans and celebrities alike — including, unsurprisingly, President Trump, who took to Truth Social to say he "absolutely love[d] that Colbert' got fired." "His talent was even less than his ratings," Trump continued. "I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less better talent than Colbert!" He concluded the post by praising Fox News' Greg Gutfeld, who he said "is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show." @PopCrave / @realdonaldtrump / LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images / Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images / Via Twitter: @PopCrave So far, Stephen and Jimmy haven't publicly responded to the post. But Jimmy did share his support for Stephen — and slam CBS — in a statement on Instagram. He wrote, 'Love you Stephen," and, "Fuck you and all your Sheldons CBS." You can see his post — and other celebrity reactions to the news — here. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword
