Veteran voice actor Kousei Tomita passed away due to a stroke at the age of 84 on Sunday. Tomita is known for voicing the title character in the original 1973 Doraemon television anime series and also for his roles in Astro-Boy, Mazinger Z etc.

Veteran voice actor Kousei Tomita, has sadly passed away at the age of 84 years old.

Some of his memorable roles include Professor Yotsuya (Combattler V), Gotho (Votoms), Doraemon (1st voice), Dr Hell & Nuke (Mazinger Z), Danbei (Grendizer) & Dr. Saotome (Getter Robo).

RIP😔 pic.twitter.com/PgqZAjn6Gf

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Tomita was a Tokyo native who began his career as a stage actor with the Gekidan Tōgei theatrical troupe. His career in the anime industry began with a role in the original 1963 Astro Boy series voicing Higeoyaji, a role he reprised in various anime from Osamu Tezuka. He worked in the anime industry for more than 50-years.

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, and Emperor Daibazaal and the narrator in Voltron.

Additionally, Tomita provided Japanese dub voices for Western films and television 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.

Source: ANN and Cinema Today