If you’re a fan of anime, you’ve heard his work without even realizing it. Mike McFarland is a voice director, writer, and actor who’s been involved in hits like Dragon Ball Z (he was the voice of Master Roshi and the announcer), One Piece, and Space Dandy. He’s basically the guy who makes sure your favorite characters don’t sound like they’re reading a grocery list. He’s also the voice of Kazuma Kval in Scrapped Princess and a bunch of others—he’s like the Swiss Army knife of voice acting.
The Rumor That Won’t Die (Unlike Mike, Thankfully)
Here’s the thing: death hoaxes are the cockroaches of the internet. They just keep showing up. In 2026, a fake obituary or a badly-worded tweet probably claimed McFarland had passed from a heart attack or something dramatic. Nope. Complete fiction. He’s still tweeting, still working, and probably still eating pizza while directing a recording session. The only thing that died was my patience for people spreading nonsense.
To be clear: Mike McFarland is alive as of this writing. I checked. He posted on social media just recently, and unless he’s a very dedicated ghost, he’s fine. The last thing he did was probably tell a sound engineer, “Let’s redo that line—it sounds like you’re strangling a chicken.” Seriously, the man is a legend in the industry, and legends don’t just vanish.
Mike McFarland Dead: 'Dragon Ball Z,' 'One Piece' Voice Actor Was 56
