Tragic Loss: Iconic Voice Actor Mike McFarland of 'One Piece' and 'Dragon Ball Z' Dies at 56
Celebrated voice actor Mike McFarland, known for his iconic roles as Master Roshi in "Dragon Ball Z" and Buggy the Clown in "One Piece," passed away at 56 after a battle with brain cancer. His nearly three-decade career left an indelible mark on English-dubbed anime, both through his memorable performances and his pivotal work as an ADR director and script adapter.
Mike McFarland, a celebrated voice actor who became a defining figure in the English-dubbed anime world, died on Wednesday at the age of 56. McFarland's passing followed a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. For nearly three decades, his distinctive voice and extensive behind-the-scenes work profoundly shaped how English-speaking audiences experienced some of anime’s most beloved series.
McFarland's career kicked off in 1997 as one of the first voice actors in Texas hired by Funimation Entertainment. He quickly rose to prominence, lending his voice to iconic characters that resonated with millions of fans worldwide. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Master Roshi and Yajirobe in "Dragon Ball" and "Dragon Ball Z," characters he continued to portray across television series, movies, and video games. Another landmark performance was his portrayal of Buggy the Clown in the English dub of "One Piece," long before the pirate's unexpected importance in the franchise solidified.
Beyond these legendary characters, McFarland's versatility shone through a vast array of roles. These include Jean Kirstein in “Attack on Titan,” Jean Havoc in both “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,” Teppei Sugo in “Psycho-Pass,” Sky Master in “Heaven’s Lost Property,” Goemon Ishikawa in “Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine,” George in “Case Closed,” Mashirao Ojiro in “My Hero Academia,” and Koutarou Amon in “Tokyo Ghoul.” More recent work featured him as Hiroshi Odokawa in “Odd Taxi,” Big Bad Wolf in “Date A Live IV,” and E.G. Mine in “Trigun Stampede,” among others. His ability to infuse characters with everything from shameless comedy to genuine warmth and emotional weight made his performances unforgettable.
McFarland's influence extended significantly beyond his voice acting. He served as a line producer, ADR director, and ADR script adapter for numerous Animated Dubbing Vision films and series from Funimation/Crunchyroll. His directorial work on projects like “Attack on Titan,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Dragon Ball,” and the “Rebuild of Evangelion” movies was instrumental in establishing performances that became inseparable from these shows for English-speaking audiences, guiding an entire generation of English dubs.
McFarland had been facing severe health challenges since January 2025, when a brain tumor forced him to withdraw from Central Florida Comic Con. He underwent multiple surgeries throughout the year. The tumor was later diagnosed as glioblastoma in August 2025, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Fellow voice actors J. Michael Tatum and Brandon McInnis initiated a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to assist McFarland with medical expenses, including affording a live-in medical assistant.
Tributes poured in from the anime community. Anime streaming service Crunchyroll stated, “Mike brought so much to all of us who knew him, and to all of the anime fans that knew his work. He was an incredible talent, a good friend to so many of us and will be sorely, sorely missed.” Surrounded by friends and family, McFarland leaves behind a profound legacy of characters and contributions that will remain an essential part of anime’s English-language history, having given fans characters they grew up with, returned to, and continued discovering across generations.