Speed Racer voice actor passes away
PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:25 pm
Posted on an anime email group
Peter Fernandez, the actor and voice director best known as the title character in the animated Speed Racer series, passed away this morning due to lung cancer. He was 83.
Fernandez not only voiced Speed himself, but also his brother Racer X and several other characters in the English-dubbed adaptation of Tatsunoko's Mach Go Go Go anime series. He also directed the voice cast and even wrote the lyrics to the signature theme song. He later played Lupin III, Daisuke Jigen, and President Jimmy Carter in the JAL dubbing of the Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo film. His voice can be heard in such dubbed anime titles as Astro Boy, Gigantor, Marine Boy, Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars, and Superbook. He made a cameo appearance as an announcer in the 2008 live-action Speed Racer film.
Corinne Orr, the actress who played Speed Racer's romantic interest Trixie and younger brother Sprittle Racer, spoke with Fernandez as recently as last week. The two had worked together on 200 productions, and she noted that he was a big star on radio and Broadway. Orr is the last surviving member of Speed Racer's main cast. Fernandez's family is planning a private service, but there are plans for a public celebration of his life in September in Pomona, California.
He will be miss as I got to meet him and Corinne Orr at AWA in 2008. They were very nice and love being around the fans and taking the time to talk to anyone.
[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]
Peter Fernandez, the actor and voice director best known as the title character in the animated Speed Racer series, passed away this morning due to lung cancer. He was 83.
Fernandez not only voiced Speed himself, but also his brother Racer X and several other characters in the English-dubbed adaptation of Tatsunoko's Mach Go Go Go anime series. He also directed the voice cast and even wrote the lyrics to the signature theme song. He later played Lupin III, Daisuke Jigen, and President Jimmy Carter in the JAL dubbing of the Lupin III: The Secret of Mamo film. His voice can be heard in such dubbed anime titles as Astro Boy, Gigantor, Marine Boy, Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars, and Superbook. He made a cameo appearance as an announcer in the 2008 live-action Speed Racer film.
Corinne Orr, the actress who played Speed Racer's romantic interest Trixie and younger brother Sprittle Racer, spoke with Fernandez as recently as last week. The two had worked together on 200 productions, and she noted that he was a big star on radio and Broadway. Orr is the last surviving member of Speed Racer's main cast. Fernandez's family is planning a private service, but there are plans for a public celebration of his life in September in Pomona, California.
He will be miss as I got to meet him and Corinne Orr at AWA in 2008. They were very nice and love being around the fans and taking the time to talk to anyone.
[font="Book Antiqua"][color="Red"]Col. Roy Mustang[/color][/font]
:waah!: [font="Century Gothic"]