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Hollywood has lost a legendary performer.
Tom Kane—who is known for his voice acting roles in Star Wars and The Powerpuff Girls—has died, his rep Zach McGinnis confirmed. He was 64.
“Today we say goodbye to Tom Kane—a legendary voice actor whose work shaped the childhoods and imaginations of millions around the world,” McGinnis told E! News in a May 18 statement. “From his unforgettable performances in Star Wars to countless animated series, documentaries, and games, Tom brought wisdom, strength, humor, and heart to every role he touched. His voice became part of our lives, our memories, and the stories we carry with us.”
Though Kane, who married Cindy Roberts in 1982, became known for his work as Yoda in Star Wars as well as Professor Utonium in The Powerpuff Girls among other beloved animated projects, his greatest legacy was his family.
“But beyond the incredible career was an extraordinary man,” McGinnis explained. “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,” he added. “Rest in peace, Tom Kane. Thank you for everything. May the Force be with you, always.”
Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Kane died May 18 at a hospital in Kansas surrounded by family, McGinnis told TMZ. His cause of death was complications from a stroke he suffered in 2020.
At the time of the medical emergency, his daughter Sam Kane shared on Facebook that the voice actor suffered "a left-sided stroke that gave him right-sided weakness and damage to the speech center of his brain."
She later continued, "My dad still remains in good spirits and his extreme stubbornness has helped him already show improvements in speech. He is fully on board with me sharing this and he will see anything you guys post."
Kane’s impressive career began at age 15 when he started doing professional voiceover work for local projects.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
“I was here in Overland Park, Kansas,” Kane told his alma mater the University of Kansas in an interview published in 2013. “I was a bored teenager, and I just thought it would be fun to hear myself on television. I didn’t know anybody got paid for it.”
By 24, he had recorded hundreds of commercials and was beginning to land major spots on national TV, according to his official website.
Since then, his voice has been featured in Shrek, Scooby Doo and The Wild Thornberrys, to name a few.
Kane even served as the live, off-camera announcer for five Academy Awards broadcasts on ABC, with the most recent gig being in 2018.
“I talk for a living,” he added to KU. “It’s the cartoons, they’re the things that make the biggest splash.”
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