Rachael Lillis, Voice of Pokémon Characters Misty and Jessie, Dies at 55

A Pokémon legend has died.

On August 10, Rachael Lillis, who voiced Misty and Jessie on the anime TV series, died in Los Angeles after a battle with breast cancer. Her sister confirmed the death to The New York Times. She was 55.

Lillis had been diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, according to her sister.

She was best known for her work on Pokémon – beginning with the U.S. adaptation of the popular Japanese video game and later in the movies.

Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum, the main character of the Pokémon series, told the outlet that Lillis always brought her "A-game" to work, and she loved meeting fans at conventions. "She really enjoyed the interactions she had with people."

Eric Stuart, another voice actor from the '90s animated series, told the Times that the show "changed Saturday morning cartoons." He became a director and later brought her into the fold on other projects he was working on, he said, as her ability to transform into a character was surprising.

"If you met her, you'd not say this was so natural for her. Rachael in real life was pretty low-key, kind of quiet and sweet," he said. "The minute she stepped in that booth it was like this whole other energy came out."

In a tribute on Instagram, Taylor praised Lillis' "beautiful voice, her terrific comic timing, and her remarkable acting skills."

"I was lucky enough to know Rachael as a friend. She had unlimited kindness and compassion, even until the very end," Taylor wrote. "She had a great sense of humor, was wonderful to be around, was incredibly intelligent, and had such a memory for moments - real or animated. She worked hard and cared deeply."

"I am not sure how this very dark void will be filled now that her light no longer shines in it," her tribute continued. "Rachael was a magnificent wonder and truly special. She burned bright and vanished too soon. She will live on in our memories for eternity."

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Aside from Misty and Jessie on Pokémon, Lillis also voiced Jigglypuff and had dozens of other voice-acting titles to her name, with her first role dating back to 1985. Winx Club, Sonic X and Revolutionary Girl Utena are among Lillis' other notable anime roles.