Prolific voice actor Tom Kane, best known for playing Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, has died at age 64. Kane has racked up numerous credits across Star Wars, Call of Duty, and a wide variety of other animated projects. Tom Kane’s talent agency, Galactic Productions, confirmed his death this morning.
“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,” reads the agency’s post. “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.”
Although the actor made a name for himself by playing Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he also voiced a handful of other characters in the beloved sci-fi franchise. Kane was the voice of Boba Fett, C-3P0, Qui-Gon Jin, and several other legendary characters in Star Wars in animated shows, games, and films.
Kane also played Takeo Masaki, one of the four main characters in Call of Duty’s iconic Zombies mode. The actor began his career in 1977 at 15 years old, but things really began to take off for him in the ’90s and early 2000s as he booked roles in cartoons like Spider-Man: The Animated Series, The Powerpuff Girls, and The Wild Thornberrys.
His voice isn’t just heard on TV, either. Tom Kane was hired for a number of voices at Walt Disney World. He was the announcer for the park’s monorail system and could be heard providing health and safety announcements around the park following the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s also been the announcer and narrator of numerous TV shows over the years, including various Star Wars cartoons.
Unfortunately, Kane suffered from a stroke in November 2020, prompting an early retirement in 2021. The actor struggled to speak and was therefore unable to continue his work.
Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
