Jan Spitzer was a distinguished German actor and voice actor, widely recognized for his prolific work in dubbing, particularly for anime and animated series. Born on May 16, 1947, in Sangerhausen, Germany, he passed away on November 4, 2022, at the age of 75.

Spitzer's career in the performing arts began with a strong foundation in classical theatre and film. He trained at the prestigious Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin from 1965 to 1968. Even as a student, he began his screen career with a leading role in the East German DEFA film Abschied (Farewell) in 1968. This was followed by numerous roles in film and television, including appearances in historical films like Johannes Kepler and the TV series Marx und Engels - Stationen ihres Lebens. Alongside his on-screen work, he was an active stage actor, performing at renowned venues such as the Deutsches Theater Berlin and the Berliner Ensemble. Spitzer was also a musician, starting in the 1960s band The Sounds and later releasing solo records in the early 1970s.

Starting in the 1990s, Spitzer became a highly sought-after voice actor, lending his deep and distinctive voice to the German dubs of a vast array of international films, television series, and video games. His voice became familiar to German audiences as the standard dubbing voice for numerous Hollywood actors, including James Earl Jones, Ron Perlman, Danny Trejo, Jon Voight, Chris Cooper, and Ted Levine.

His contributions to the world of anime and animation were particularly extensive. He voiced the role of Kigetsu in both parts of the Netflix series Sword Gai: The Animation. In the Appleseed franchise, he provided the voice for Commander Lance in Appleseed XIII and its compilation films. He took on the role of the enigmatic Oswald Whistler in Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva and voiced the villain Jekyll in the anime series Kaiketsu Zorro.

Spitzer's filmography includes major animated films such as the role of the mythical Darkrai in Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai and the character Lynchman in the high-octane film Redline. In the world of video game adaptations, he voiced Souther in Shin Kyūseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Raoh-den Junai no Shō, King Bulgher in the Netflix series Cannon Busters, Balder in Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, Alighiero in Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic, and Bishop Daimon in the fantasy film Brave Story.

Beyond these specific titles, Spitzer's voice was a constant presence in German-dubbed anime. He was the German voice of Lordgenome in Gurren Lagann, Sergei Smirnov in Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Hades in Fairy Tail. He also voiced numerous characters in the long-running Detective Conan franchise. His work was not limited to Japanese animation; he also voiced major roles in Western animation, such as The Brain in Pinky and the Brain, Megatron and Ratchet in various Transformers series and films, and Dr. Drakken in Kim Possible. Jan Spitzer's extensive and versatile body of work left a significant mark on the German dubbing industry, making him a familiar and respected voice for generations of viewers.