THEIR STORY
A life remembered
Mike McFarland, an American voice actor and ADR director whose work helped define English-language anime for a generation of viewers, died on September 9, 2026, at a care facility in Dallas, Texas. He was 56. He had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Born on July 14, 1970, in Texas City, Texas, McFarland built a career that covered performance, writing, adaptation and production. He became widely recognized as the English voice of Master Roshi and Yajirobe in the Dragon Ball franchise. He also voiced Buggy in One Piece and Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, alongside roles in Fullmetal Alchemist, My Hero Academia, Tokyo Ghoul and many other anime productions. His work also reached video games, including entries in the Street Fighter, Borderlands and World of Warcraft franchises.
McFarland’s contribution extended beyond the characters he performed. As an ADR director and script professional, he helped adapt Japanese productions for English-speaking audiences while preserving the meaning, tone and emotional rhythm of the original performances. He worked on major titles including Attack on Titan and Fullmetal Alchemist, helping actors deliver dialogue that sounded natural without losing the identity of the source material.
After a brain tumor was discovered in 2025, friends and colleagues supported McFarland through treatment and recovery efforts. Reports later confirmed that he had glioblastoma. Following his death, voice actors, production colleagues and anime fans remembered him for his talent, mentorship and generosity within the creative community.
Mike McFarland leaves a substantial body of work that continues to introduce new audiences to anime. His performances remain attached to characters loved around the world, while his direction helped raise the standard of English dubbing. Legend Memorial remembers him for the voices he created, the performers he guided and the lasting place he earned in anime history.