The anime community lost a remarkable voice yesterday with the passing of Mike McFarland at 56.
McFarland was far more than a voice actor, though his voice alone made him an unforgettable part of many fans’ anime experiences. He was the English voice of Master Roshi and Yajirobe in Dragon Ball, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, Buggy in One Piece, and many other beloved characters. He was also an ADR director, script writer, and producer whose work helped shape the English-language experience of countless anime series and films.
Mike was gracious enough to record this little sound bite for us that we often used at the beginning of the old Tanglecast podcast.
I had the opportunity to interview Mike in 2018 at Wizard World Austin, and he was really thoughtful in his responses; it also wasn’t my only time I interacted with him. Over the years, I ran into him casually at other events. We weren’t close—I suspect I was just one of the tens of thousands of people he encountered throughout his career, and he probably wouldn’t have remembered me from one meeting to the next. But he was always gracious.
That’s a small thing, perhaps, but it has stayed with me. And I’ve consistently heard the same sort of thing from people who actually worked with Mike: He was kind, generous, and someone people enjoyed having around. Those who knew him professionally have spoken warmly about him not simply as a talented actor and director, but as a good person.
That certainly came through in our 2018 conversation. Mike spoke enthusiastically about the many different aspects of his work—acting, writing, directing, and helping bring stories to life. He clearly loved the creative process and the people who made it possible.
His body of work is enormous, and anime fans will remember him through characters like Master Roshi, Jean Kirstein, Jean Havoc, and Buggy for generations. But there’s something meaningful about knowing that behind all those voices was a person who, by all accounts, treated the people around him with kindness.
Today, we’re remembering Mike by sharing our 2018 conversation again. If you’re a fan of his work, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read about him talking about his craft, his love of storytelling, and the many hats he wore throughout his career.
We miss you, Mike. Thank you for the stories, the characters, and the kindness you showed along the way.
Mike McFarland (July 14, 1970 – September 9, 2026)
