Voice actor Kousei Tomita, known for his role as Bakabon's father in the anime "Heisei Tensai Bakabon", Dr Hell in "Mazinger Z", and also the original voice of Doraemon, passed away due to stroke on Sunday. He was 84.
Tomita was a native of Tokyo and began his career as a stage actor with the Gekidan Tōgei theatrical troupe. He worked in the anime industry for more than 50 years, and he began with the role in the original 1973 Astro Boy series and reprised the role of Higeoyaji in various anime from Osamu Tezuka.
He is also known for voicing the title character in the original 1973 Doraemon TV anime series. Tomita's other anime roles included Bakabon's papa in Heisei Tensai Bakabon, Dr Hell and Nuke in Mazinger Z, Inspector Ohtsuka in Shin Tetsujin 28, Dr Saotome in Getter Robo, Alexander Bucock in The Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Bouleuse Gotho in Armored Trooper Votoms, Emperor Daibazaal and the narrator in Voltron, Anaconda in Crayon Shin-chan: The Secret Treasure of Buri Buri Kingdom, and Dr Bacchus in Cowboy Bebop, etc.
Tomita has also provided Japanese dub voices for Western films and TV series such as Rocky, Airwolf, Emperor of the North Pole, and the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. film. He had a role in the Appare Sanma Daisensei variety program and also worked as a narrator. Tomita's voice recordings featured in Tokyo Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain ride.
He received an Achievement Award at the 3rd Seiyu Awards in 2009.
Tags:
Comments