Billy Beach is a pseudonym used by the American voice actor James Carter Cathcart, who was also widely known as Jimmy Zoppi. His career was extensive and closely linked with English-language adaptations of Japanese anime, though it began long before his voice acting work. He was a professional musician from his high school years, playing in bands including The Laughing Dogs, which released two albums on Columbia Records, and he led the Carter Cathcart Band.

Cathcart's entry into voice acting came in the 1980s with his first role as Cap'n O. G. Readmore on the ABC Weekend Special. He subsequently recorded voiceovers for commercials before auditioning for what would become his signature franchise, Pokémon. Under the Billy Beach alias, he performed in several of the Pokémon films, specifically taking on the roles of James and Meowth in movies such as Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, and Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life. In Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, he voiced not only James and Meowth but also Professor Oak. His involvement in the franchise was profound and long-standing; beyond these films, he was the voice of James, Meowth, and Professor Oak in the main anime series for nearly two decades, beginning in 2006, and had voiced Gary Oak from the very start of the English dub in 1998. In total, his voice appeared in over 700 episodes of the Pokémon anime and more than 15 films.

Beyond his iconic Pokémon work, Cathcart's voice was featured prolifically in other anime dubs produced by studios like 4Kids Entertainment, TAJ Productions, and NYAV Post. His notable roles in this sphere included Weevil Underwood in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, Vector the Crocodile in Sonic X and the video game Shadow the Hedgehog, Miki Kaoru in Revolutionary Girl Utena, Prince Philionel in The Slayers, and Butchie in the 4Kids adaptation of One Piece. He also contributed voices to shows such as Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Ultimate Muscle. His work extended into video games as well, with credits including Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the Shadow the Hedgehog title.

A significant achievement was his remarkable tenure and versatility within the Pokémon franchise. Following a change in the dubbing production, he was one of only two voice actors from the original cast to continue in their roles, becoming the sole remaining active voice actor from the series' inception after the retirement of his colleague. In addition to his acting, he also contributed as an ADR script adaptor for many of the later Pokémon films and the anime series, demonstrating his deep involvement in the production of the English version. His voice acting career continued until his retirement in 2023, following a diagnosis of throat cancer.