For generations of anime fans, Mike McFarland was more than a voice behind a microphone. His performances gave personality, humor and emotion to characters who became part of countless childhood memories. Reports circulating on September 10, 2026, say the veteran voice actor has died at 56, although his passing has not yet been publicly confirmed by an official family statement or a major industry news organization.
Born July 14, 1970, McFarland built a career spanning voice acting, ADR direction, scriptwriting and production. He became especially recognized for his Funimation English-dub performances as Master Roshi and Yajirobe in Dragon Ball, while also voicing Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, Buggy in One Piece, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Koutarou Amon in Tokyo Ghoul, and characters in My Hero Academia, Black Clover, One-Punch Man and Psycho-Pass.
His influence extended behind the microphone. McFarland directed English dubs for productions including Dragon Ball, Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan, the Rebuild of Evangelion films, Summer Wars and Wolf Children.
McFarland had also faced serious health challenges, including treatment for a brain tumor and later reported glioblastoma.
Whether remembered as Master Roshi, Jean Kirstein or through his work shaping English anime productions, McFarland leaves an enduring creative legacy. If his reported passing is confirmed, anime fans will mourn a performer whose voice helped define an era.