Michael Deffert was a German actor and voice artist whose career spanned over three decades, from his discovery as a child performer to his death in 2021. Born in Hamburg in 1968, he was discovered for the German version of Sesame Street at the age of eleven. This early start led to roles on stage, including at the Hamburger Kammerspiele, and in numerous German television series. His breakthrough in live-action television came with a lead role in the series SK-Babies, the German adaptation of, where he played undercover cop Hannes Lohberg for several years.

Beyond his on-screen work, Deffert built a prolific career as a voice actor and dubbing director, becoming a familiar voice to German audiences for his work on international films and series. He was the regular German voice for actors such as Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Mark Ruffalo, and Shemar Moore, whom he voiced for over 250 episodes of Criminal Minds. His voice work also extended to animation, where he was known as the German voice of the character Aladdin in the Disney film and its sequels, and as Skipper in the Penguins of Madagascar franchise.

In the realm of anime, Deffert contributed his voice to several prominent productions. He voiced the character Ki-Kima in the 2006 animated fantasy film Brave Story. In the 2018 series Angels of Death, he provided the German voice for the character Abraham Gray. He also worked on the series Tsubasa Chronicle. It is important to note that while Deffert was an active anime voice actor, the role of Brock in the Pokémon Origins series, one of the titles listed in the query, was voiced by a different actor in the English version.

Deffert was also a trained stage actor and a producer. Alongside his friend, actor Billy Zabka, he co-produced the short film Most, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film in 2003. His later work included writing and directing a documentary about wildlife conservation in Kenya for the ARTE channel, reflecting his personal passion for the subject.

Michael Deffert passed away in a Berlin hospital on June 13, 2021, at the age of 53.