Alain Dorval was a prominent French actor, born on August 9, 1946, in Algiers, who became a highly influential figure in the world of voice acting, particularly renowned for dubbing animation and live-action films. He passed away on February 13, 2024. His career in voice work began after he discovered dubbing by chance, following his formal training at the Cours Simon and the Conservatoire national supérieur d'art dramatique in Paris.

In the realm of anime and animation, Dorval is recognized for his contributions to several classic French-produced animated series that were also popular in Japan. He was part of the regular voice cast for the educational series "Il était une fois... la Vie" (known in Japan as Seimei no Kagaku Micro Patrol), where he lent his voice to multiple characters. These roles included the red blood cell Hémo, as well as the characters Le Gros and Le Teigneux. His work in this series is part of his broader involvement in the "Once Upon a Time..." educational franchise, where he also voiced characters in its predecessor, "Il était une fois... l'Espace". Furthermore, his anime voice acting credits include the role of Ash in the animated film "A Detective Story".

Beyond these specific titles, Dorval's voice became a staple in French-dubbed animation throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. He provided the French voice for Tiger in the "Fievel" film series and became the definitive voice of the Disney character Peg-Leg Pete (Pat Hibulaire) starting in 1992, a role he held for many years. His other notable animation roles included Lex Luthor in the series "Superman, l'Ange de Metropolis" and Weaver in the film "Antz". While these are not all Japanese anime productions, they highlight his extensive and recurring presence as a voice actor in animated works for French audiences.

Throughout his career, Dorval collaborated with many of the same voice actors and studios, becoming a familiar voice in French media. His work was not limited to animation; he was legendary as the official French voice of Sylvester Stallone and also dubbed actors like Nick Nolte and Danny Aiello. His deep, recognizable voice was also used for radio jingles for stations like Skyrock and Ado FM for many years.

For his significant contributions to the arts and culture, Alain Dorval was appointed a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2023. His legacy is that of a versatile and hard-working actor whose voice became embedded in the childhoods of many through his animated roles and in popular culture through his iconic film dubbing.