Mike McFarland, the veteran English voice actor best known as the voice of Buggy the Clown in One Piece, Master Roshi in Dragon Ball, and Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, has died at the age of 56. News of his death emerged on September 9, 2026, following his battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. McFarland was diagnosed with the disease in August 2025, according to reporting cited by the sources covering his death.
Beyond his work as an English dub performer, McFarland was a writer, director, and producer who became an important figure in the Texas-based anime production scene. His career stretched from the late 1990s through numerous major anime franchises, eventually continuing with Crunchyroll after Funimation and Crunchyroll merged. His death has prompted tributes from fellow performers, fans, and companies across the anime industry.
Mike McFarland’s Most Recognizable Anime Roles
For One Piece fans, McFarland will be particularly remembered as the English voice of Buggy the Clown, the flamboyant pirate who evolved from an early antagonist into one of the series’ most unpredictable recurring characters. McFarland performed the English voice of Buggy from 2007 until his death, making his performance part of the character’s long-running presence in the English-language version of the anime.
McFarland also played one of the most recognizable characters in the Dragon Ball franchise. His English performance as Master Roshi, along with his work as Yajirobe, helped establish him as a familiar voice across the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z anime.
His credits extended well beyond those two franchises. McFarland voiced Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Mashirao Ojiro in My Hero Academia, and Teppei Sugo in Psycho-Pass. Other credits included Makoto Hyuga in the Evangelion film series, Goemon Ishikawa in Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, and George in Case Closed.
Among his later performances were Hiroshi Odokawa in Odd Taxi, Big Bad Wolf in Date A Live IV, and E G Mine in Trigun Stampede. His wide-ranging credits demonstrated his ability to move between comedy, action, drama and supporting character roles across different generations of anime.
Anime Industry Remembers Mike McFarland
McFarland’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes from colleagues who worked alongside him throughout his career. J. Michael Tatum, known for roles including Sebastian Michaelis and Erwin Smith, described McFarland as a close friend and mentor of more than two decades.
“Mike McFarland, my dear friend and mentor of over twenty years, is gone,”
Tatum wrote in a tribute shared on X. He remembered McFarland as an exceptionally kind person and concluded that
“The love you created endures,”
reflecting the personal impact the actor had on those around him.
Alejandro Saab, known for voicing Deadpool in Marvel Rivals, also remembered McFarland as someone who was
“goofy, kind and smart”
while praising his abilities as an actor and director. Saab additionally recalled McFarland’s enthusiasm for food, music, travel and experiencing new things, offering a more personal look into their relationship.
Crunchyroll also issued a statement acknowledging McFarland’s contribution to anime and the people who knew him. In a statement the company said,
“Mike brought so much to all of us who knew him, and to all of the anime fans who knew his work.”
The statement described McFarland as an “incredible talent” and a good friend to many within the industry, adding that he would be “sorely, sorely missed.”
McFarland’s Career Extended Beyond Voice Acting
While his performances remain his most visible legacy, McFarland contributed to English-language anime production in several different roles. His professional work included script writing, ADR direction, production and line producing, allowing him to influence productions both in front of and behind the microphone.
His career began during the expansion of English-dubbed anime in the late 1990s, when he worked with Funimation in Texas. That period placed him at the center of a growing dubbing industry that would eventually introduce countless Japanese anime productions to English-speaking audiences.
Fans have also been sharing memories of McFarland at conventions and industry events. One widely circulated memory recalled his appearance at an Ouran High School Host Club cast announcement at Anime Expo in 2008, where he appeared in costume as Ranka Fujioka, reflecting the enthusiasm and humor that colleagues and fans associated with him.
McFarland’s death marks the loss of a performer whose voice became attached to characters across some of anime’s biggest franchises. From Buggy’s theatrical antics in One Piece to Master Roshi’s eccentric mentorship in Dragon Ball and Jean Kirstein’s journey in Attack on Titan, his performances reached multiple generations of viewers.
His broader work as a writer, director and producer further strengthened his legacy within English-language anime production. For fans revisiting his work, his extensive catalogue offers a lasting reminder of the influence he had on the English anime industry over several decades.
| Started | October 22, 1997 |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Shueisha |
| Author | Eiichiro Oda |
