John Hostetter was an American actor and voice artist whose career spanned over three decades, encompassing live-action television, film, and a significant body of work in animation dubbing, particularly for English-language versions of Japanese anime. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 6, 1946, and raised in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Hostetter developed his craft on the stage, earning a master's degree in acting from Cornell University and performing with the National Shakespeare Company before relocating to California in 1971. His on-screen career included over 100 film and television roles, with his most recognized part being the stage manager John on the long-running CBS sitcom Murphy Brown, a role he played in 65 episodes from 1988 to 1998. His live-action credits also included appearances in popular series such as The Golden Girls, Knight Rider, Matlock, and NYPD Blue, as well as films like Heartbreak Ridge, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Star Trek: Insurrection.

Hostetter's entry into voice acting began in 1985 with the role of Bazooka in the animated series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a part he would reprise in the subsequent film G.I. Joe: The Movie. This work led to his involvement in the English-language dubs of various anime series that were adapted for the U.S. market, often as part of syndication packages like Force Five. He became a prominent voice in these productions, contributing to the dubs of several classic 1970s anime series. In the science fiction series Science Fiction Saiyuki Starzinger, he provided the voice for the character Don Hakka. His contributions to the Getter Robo franchise were extensive; in the series Getter Robo G, Hostetter voiced multiple roles, including the characters Benkei Kuruma, Dr. Saotome, Doctor Gura, and Marshal Hidler. He also played several parts in the English dub of Space Pirate Captain Harlock, where his credits included the roles of Rocky, Dr. Hairball, the Prime Minister, and the Narrator.

Beyond these series, Hostetter's voice work in anime demonstrated recurring collaborations with specific dubbing studios and casts, particularly for productions in the Los Angeles area during the 1980s and 1990s. He was frequently cast alongside other regular voice actors in the industry, contributing to OVAs such as Tekkaman Blade II, where he voiced the character Honda, and Bio Hunter, where he played the Boss. His filmography also includes roles in English dubs for prominent animated features. He voiced the character Boss in the Disney dub of Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky, Fukuo and the Dirigible Captain in Kiki's Delivery Service, and provided additional voices for the acclaimed English adaptation of Princess Mononoke. Other anime film credits included Twilight of the Dark Master and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

John Hostetter's career as a voice actor is notable for his versatility in taking on a wide range of characters, from heroic cyborgs and wise professors to villains and narrators, in some of the most iconic anime series imported to the United States during the formative era of Western anime fandom. He passed away on September 2, 2016, at the age of 69.