Takeshi Aono was a highly respected Japanese voice actor and narrator, born on June 19, 1936, in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. He began his career in the mid-1950s and was affiliated with the talent agency Aoni Production at the time of his death. Aono was known for his distinctive, often harsh voice, which he used to portray a wide array of characters, from wise elders to charismatic villains.

Throughout his prolific career spanning over five decades, Aono amassed an extensive list of credits in anime, video games, and foreign film dubs. He is particularly renowned for several iconic roles, including Shiro Sanada in the seminal Space Battleship Yamato series and its sequels, and as the second voice of Tomozō Sakura, the beloved grandfather in the long-running series Chibi Maruko-chan. His portrayal of the antagonist King Piccolo and his successor Kami in the Dragon Ball franchise is also highly memorable. In the Fist of the North Star series, he played the role of Rihaku, and in various adaptations of GeGeGe no Kitaro, he voiced the yokai leader Nurarihyon. He was also a regular presence in the One Piece franchise for many years, voicing Dracule Mihawk in the series and its first ten movies. Other notable anime roles include the Gambling King in Ranma ½, Dakuan in Ninja Scroll, Sugoroku Mutou in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Kaijinbō in Inuyasha, Gengai Hiraga in Gintama, and Tazuna in Naruto.

In the Tenchi Muyo! franchise, Aono was a staple, providing the voices for both Katsuhito Masaki and Nobuyuki Masaki across numerous series and OVAs. His versatility extended to villainous roles, such as the Decepticon leader Deathzaras (Deathsaurus) in Transformers: Victory, the Super Devil in the Bikkuriman series, and Vanilla Ice in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OVA. He also voiced a wide range of characters in other works mentioned, such as Osman in The Familiar of Zero, Mao Fan and Mao Hun in Fighting Beauty Wulong, Hokuben in Toki no Tabibito -Time Stranger-, and Guan Yu in the Sangokushi film series.

Beyond anime, Aono was a prolific voice in video games and dubbing. He was the official Japanese dubbing voice for actors Joe Pesci and Christopher Lloyd. Gamers knew him as the voice of the diabolical Dr. Wily in several Mega Man games and as Colonel Roy Campbell in the Metal Gear Solid series. His portrayal of Colonel Campbell was so definitive that, following his death, game designer Hideo Kojima chose to retire the character out of respect.

In May 2010, Aono was hospitalized after suffering an aortic dissection and subsequently a stroke, which forced him to retire from voice acting. He passed away on April 9, 2012, at the age of 75 due to complications from surgery. His passing marked the end of a remarkable career, leaving behind a vast body of work that has left an indelible mark on the anime and gaming industries.