Actor Tom Kane, voice of Professor Utonium in Powerpuff Girls and of Yoda and other characters in various Star Wars spinoffs, died Monday. He was 64.
Talent agency Galactic Productions confirmed Kane’s death on social media, calling him “a legendary voice actor whose work shaped the childhoods and imaginations of millions around the world. From his unforgettable performances in Star Wars to countless animated series, documentaries, and games, Tom brought wisdom, strength, humour, and heart to every role he touched.”
Born April 15, 1962, in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kane began doing professional voiceover work at age 15, racking up voiceovers in hundreds of commercials by the time he graduated college, according to his IMDb biography.
In Hollywood he voiced movie trailers, network promos, games and cartoon. Kane was the voice of Yoda throughout Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and subsequent television series, in addition to numerous other characters in the franchise. His is also the voice of the Disney Theme Parks’ monorail system.
Besides voicing Professor Utonium in Powerpuff Girls, Kane also lent his voice to HIM, the animated series’ villain. His last Instagram post, in March, was a photo of him surrounded by the original, real-life Powerpuffs Cathy Cavadini (Blossom), Tara Strong (Bubbles) and Elizabeth Daily (Buttercup) and joyfully captioned, “Reunited with my girls!!”
Kane was known for his ability to mimic others’ voices, enabling him to step in on projects whose original voiceover actors were no longer available. His own career was brought to a halt after a 2020 stroke that left him unable to speak.
Kane’s last vocal appearance will be as the narrator in the upcoming series JFK Assassination: Declassified Theories, according to IMDb. He leaves behind wife Cindy Roberts, whom he married in 1982, and their nine children, Galactic Productions noted. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
