Genzō Wakayama was a Japanese actor, voice actor, radio personality, and narrator whose distinctive, deep, and velvety voice, often called the Lady Killer Voice, made him a prominent figure in the Japanese dubbing industry for decades. While he is most celebrated for his extensive work in dubbing foreign films and television dramas, he also contributed to several notable anime productions throughout his career.

Wakayama was born on September 27, 1932, in Ōdomari, Karafuto (now Korsakov, Russia). He moved to Sapporo as a child. His distinctive low voice, which developed early, initially made him self-conscious, prompting him to join a reading and broadcasting research group run by NHK in Sapporo during his second year of high school to overcome his complex. After graduating, he became a research student at the newly established NHK Sapporo Radio Drama Troupe in 1951 and officially joined in 1952. He gained critical acclaim for his lead role in the radio drama "Pilot Farm," which received a Minister of Education Award for Arts in 1956, and later moved to Tokyo to further his career.

Beginning with his first lead dubbing role in the television series "The Lone Ranger" in 1958, Wakayama became a dominant force in the field of foreign drama and film dubbing. He is perhaps best known as the definitive Japanese voice actor for actor Sean Connery, dubbing his James Bond in numerous 007 films and many other Connery movies. His other regular dubbing roles included Peter Graves in "Mission: Impossible," Raymond Burr in "Ironside," and Gene Barry in "Burke's Law".

In the world of anime, Wakayama was selective due to a personal preference for dubbing only after the animation was fully complete, a process known as アフレコ (afureko), as opposed to working with incomplete storyboards. Despite this, he left a mark on several classic animated works. Among his most acclaimed anime roles was John Silver in the 1978 series "Treasure Island". This role was particularly memorable for him despite the production not always adhering to his preferred methods. He also voiced the character Meakinso in the 2006 Studio Ghibli short film "The Day I Bought a Star". His other anime roles include Medousa in the 1984 film "Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld" and the character Boss in the 1968 film "Gamera vs. Viras". Additionally, he provided narration for the 1966 film "Gamera vs. Barugon".

Beyond acting, Wakayama was a highly successful radio personality. He hosted the TBS Radio program "Wakayama Genzō no Tokyo Dial 954" for 22 years without a single absence, a run that set a record for a live radio show at the time. He was also known for his dedication to his craft, often insisting on recording his dubbing lines alone to maintain focus on the nuance of the performance and the natural rhythm of breathing.

Genzō Wakayama passed away on May 18, 2021, at his home in Tokyo due to heart failure. He was 88 years old.