Who was Rachael Lillis?
Rachael Lillis was renowned for her vocal talents and writing skills, particularly for her portrayal of Misty and Jessie in the initial eight seasons of the English adaptation of Pokémon.
Rachael Lillis was born on July 8, 1969, in Niagara Falls, New York. She pursued a premed education at Smith College before delving into acting, training in both Boston and New York City. Lillis has performed in numerous stage shows, animated shows, and indie films. She initially resided in New York City but relocated to Los Angeles in 2013.
Lillis’s sister launched a GoFundMe initiative in May 2024 to inform the public about her battle with breast cancer. Many of her fellow performers also promoted the campaign to gather funds for her treatment. Sadly, Lillis passed away in Los Angeles on August 10, 2024, at 55 years old.
Career
Before transitioning into voice acting in the 1990s, Rachael Lillis received training in opera. She went on to lend her voice to an extensive list of TV shows, movies, and video games.
In 1998, she landed the role of Misty, a water-type gym leader, in the English version of the popular anime, Pokémon. Misty was a key character in the series, alongside the protagonist Ash, his loyal Pikachu, and fellow gym leader Brock.
Additionally, Lillis lent her voice to the antagonist Jessie as well as various Pokémon characters such as Jigglypuff, Vulpix, Venonat, and Goldeen. She was featured in 423 installments of the popular 90s Japanese animated series, which was one of the largest franchises at the time.
Additionally, she provided her voice for a Pokémon character in the 2019 movie Detective Pikachu and the Super Smash Bros video game franchise.
Cause of Death
In May 2024, Lillis received a breast cancer diagnosis and passed away on August 10th. On social media, Veronica Taylor, who played Ash Ketchum in the English version of Pokémon, shared the news of Lillis’ death with great sadness.
She wrote,
“Rachael was an extraordinary talent, a bright light that shone through her voice whether speaking or singing. She will be forever remembered for the many animated roles she played, with her iconic performances as Pokemon’s Misty and Jessie being the most beloved.
“Rachael was so thankful for all the generous love and support that was given to her as she battled cancer. It truly made a positive difference.”
Laurie Orr, Rachael Lillis’ sister, shared the news of Lillis’ passing on a GoFundMe page that had been created to assist with Lillis’ medical expenses. The page had accumulated $98,000 in donations.
“She passed peacefully Saturday night, without pain, and for that we are grateful,”
Orr noted that the money would be allocated for the outstanding expenses, a commemorative event, and cancer studies.
