James Carter Cathcart was an American voice actor widely recognized for his extensive work in anime dubbing, most notably for his long-standing contributions to the Pokémon franchise. Born on March 8, 1954, he began his career in the entertainment industry as a musician, performing with bands such as The Laughing Dogs and collaborating with artists like Dave Brubeck before transitioning to voice acting in the 1980s. His voice acting career included work under the names Jimmy Zoppi and Billy Beach.

Cathcart is best known for his role in the English-language adaptation of the Pokémon anime series, a role he held for 25 years. He was the voice of several key characters, including the villainous Team Rocket members James and the talking Pokémon Meowth, the scholarly Professor Oak, and his grandson Gary Oak. He began his work with the franchise starting with the first movie in 1998 and continued until his retirement in 2023, appearing in over 700 episodes of the television series and more than 15 films, including Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. In addition to his voice work, Cathcart also served as the sole scriptwriter for the English dub of Pokémon for 17 years.

Beyond Pokémon, Cathcart built a substantial body of work in other popular anime series. He voiced Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X, Weevil Underwood in Yu-Gi-Oh!, and had roles in One Piece, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Slayers, and Mission Odyssey. His work also extended into video games, providing voices for titles such as Shadow the Hedgehog.

A prolific figure in the industry, Cathcart's career was marked by his vocal versatility and his long-term dedication to the characters he portrayed. He retired from voice acting in 2023 following a diagnosis of oral cancer and passed away on July 8, 2025, at the age of 71. His passing was met with tributes from colleagues and fans, recognizing his talent and the warmth he brought to his work.