A legacy that will be remembered across galaxies.
Tom Kane, the legendary voice behind characters in game franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel’s X-Men, The Powerpuff Girls, Call of Duty, and more, has passed away at the age of 64, leaving behind a storied legacy in the entertainment industry.
He suffered complications from a stroke and passed away at a hospital in Kansas City, as announced by his talent agency, Galactic Productions, on 18 May.
Tom Kane's work in Star Wars video games and beyond
Kane was a part of many childhoods, lending his voice to countless characters across films, television shows, and video games.
His most iconic work came within the expansive Star Wars universe, where he voiced Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and reprised his television role as Admiral Ackbar in the 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. He also voiced Professor Utonium in The Powerpuff Girls and The Chancellor in 9.
Beyond film and television, his work stood out equally in the gaming scene. He voiced Yoda in Star Wars Battlefront II and Jedi Master Vandar in Knights of the Old Republic. In 2022’s LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Kane voiced Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Admiral Ackbar–his final role before his sudden retirement following a stroke.
While much of his work was rooted in George Lucas’ universe, he also contributed to other major franchises, voicing Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn’s Quest, and War in the North.
He also voiced Magneto in several Marvel games, Takeo Masaki in the Call of Duty franchise, and the robot Lok in Fortnite’s Save the World mode.
The community pays tribute to Tom Kane
Kane was, without doubt, an inspiring voice for an entire generation through his immense contributions to voice acting. Many fans online have shared tributes to Kane and offered condolences to his loved ones.
Kane’s agency delivered a heartfelt message in tribute to the voice actor, husband, and father:
“Tom brought wisdom, strength, humour, and heart to every role he touched. His voice became part of our lives, our memories, and the stories we carry with us.
"But beyond the incredible career was an extraordinary man. Tom was a devoted husband and father who, alongside his wife, built a loving family of nine children — three biological and six welcomed through adoption and fostering. That compassion and generosity defined who he was just as much as his remarkable talent did.
"Though his voice may now be silent, the characters, stories, and love he gave to the world will live on forever.”
Lucasfilm, the Star Wars studio, also posted its tribute to Kane shortly:
“Everyone at Lucasfilm is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Tom Kane, a man whose voice ushered an entire generation of fans into the world of Star Wars animation.”
Studio president Dave Filoni also reminisced about his memories with Kane, dating back to when he first began working with Lucasfilm in 1996 and joined the Star Wars family nearly three decades ago.
“I am so grateful for all that he did for me and for Lucasfilm. I’m also glad that his characters and voice will live on in many ways. Wherever you go, there’s always a chance that Tom is the voice you hear guiding you through Disneyland or a galaxy far, far away.”
