It’s a sad day in the world of voice acting. For many millennials, one man in particular helped shape the soundscape of our childhoods. From cartoons to video games, his voice was everywhere. Yesterday (Thursday, 11th December), it was reported that veteran voice actor Jim Ward had passed away.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his former co-host on The Stephanie Miller Show, who shared: “One of the saddest messages I have ever received from the amazing Mrs Jim Ward: our wonderful ‘voice deity’, as Steph anointed Jim Ward, passed away today at 10:45am.” His cause of death has not yet been disclosed, though it was previously known that his health had been in decline.
According to several reports, Ward contracted a severe case of COVID-19 in 2021, shortly after being hospitalised for a mild cognitive memory issue. The illness reportedly left him “completely paralysed” for four months. He was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which ultimately prevented him from reprising his role in “Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart”.
Jim Ward began his voice-acting career in 1993, making his debut in “Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin”. He went on to deliver some of his most recognisable performances in the “Ratchet & Clank” video game franchise as the beloved Captain Qwark. He also lent his voice to numerous animated series, including several of Ben Tennyson’s alien forms in “Ben 10”, as well as Doug Dimmadome and Chet Ubetcha in “The Fairly OddParents”.
Fans and fellow voice actors have taken to social media to share their grief and offer their condolences to Jim Ward’s loved ones. We, too, would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to his family. May they find strength and comfort during this difficult time.
