Legendary Anime Voice Actor Behind ‘One Piece’ and ‘Dragon Ball Z,’ Mike McFarland, Has Died at 56

Anime fandom lost one of its most recognizable voices this week, and the news has sent ripples through a community that grew up hearing his work define some of the genre’s most beloved characters. For decades, Mike McFarland was one of the driving forces behind English-language anime dubbing, helping shape how American audiences experienced series that would go on to become cultural touchstones.

McFarland began his career in the anime industry in the late 1990s, eventually becoming one of the most influential figures in Texas-based anime production, first through Funimation and later through Crunchyroll following the companies’ merger. Beyond voice acting, he worked extensively as a script writer, director, and line producer, helping bring countless English dubs to life behind the scenes as well as in front of the microphone.

McFarland died Wednesday, September 10, at the age of 56, following a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. He was diagnosed with the illness in 2025 and had a tennis ball-sized tumor removed in January of that year, though the disease ultimately proved too aggressive to overcome. He passed away at a Dallas care facility, surrounded by friends and family.

To generations of anime fans, McFarland’s voice was inseparable from some of the medium’s most iconic characters. He voiced Master Roshi and Yajirobe throughout the Dragon Ball franchise, Buggy the Clown in ‘One Piece,’ and Jean Kirstein in ‘Attack on Titan,’ roles that made him one of the most recognizable voices to emerge from the golden era of Funimation dubbing.

His résumé extended far beyond those signature roles as well, including performances as Jean Havoc in ‘Fullmetal Alchemist,’ Teppei Sugo in ‘Psycho-Pass,’ Goemon Ishikawa in the ‘Lupin III’ films, Hiroshi Odokawa in ‘Odd Taxi,’ and Kotaro Amon in ‘Tokyo Ghoul.’ In more recent years, he shifted increasingly into directing and script work, helping shape English dubs for newer hit series like ‘Chainsaw Man,’ ‘Mob Psycho 100,’ and ‘My Hero Academia.’

Crunchyroll issued a statement mourning his passing, telling Deadline, “Mike brought so much to all of us who knew him, and to all of the anime fans that knew his work. He was an incredible talent, a good friend to so many of us, and will be sorely, sorely missed.”

Tributes have poured in from across the voice acting community in the hours since his death was confirmed. Fellow voice actor Matt Mercer shared a heartfelt remembrance on Instagram, describing McFarland as one of his favorite directors to work with and crediting him for helping shape major parts of his career by casting him in projects like ‘Attack on Titan’ and ‘One Piece.’

Other members of the anime community echoed similar sentiments online, remembering McFarland not just for his professional talent but for his warmth and generosity toward colleagues throughout his career. Friends who organized a GoFundMe during his illness noted that members of the voiceover community had gathered in his final months to sing songs and share stories, offering him support as his health declined.

McFarland’s decades-long body of work spans some of the most influential English-dubbed anime series ever produced, and his contributions helped shape how an entire generation of American fans experienced the medium. For many, his voice will remain permanently tied to childhood memories of discovering shows like ‘Dragon Ball Z’ and ‘One Piece’ for the very first time.

His family has asked that those wishing to honor his memory consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the SPCA, causes that were reportedly close to his heart.

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