NEW YORK — Voice actor James Carter Cathcart, best known for voicing Team Rocket's James and Meowth from Pokémon, died Tuesday. He was 71. 

Cathcart, also known as "Jimmy Zoppi," died of throat cancer, according to Deadline. He died peacefully while in the hospital, according to his wife Martha Jacobi.

She posted to a fan club Facebook page announcing his death Thursday. 

"Thanks to all of Jimmy’s fans over the years! Giving you joy was why he worked so hard on his craft," she wrote. "Please know how much he appreciated you!"

He was diagnosed with throat cancer and retired from acting in 2023.

Voice actor Erica Schroeder, who worked on many of the same projects as Cathcart, posted to social media to remember him Thursday.

"Rest in peace dear sweet man. I will miss you. The community will miss you. The world will miss you," she wrote. "One of the most joyful, exuberant, kind-hearted and talented souls no longer walks with us. James Carter Cathcart you were one of a kind, a gentle, beautiful, playful genius and I was happy to call you my friend."

Cathcart played iconic characters through his decades long career and has over 100 credits on IMDb. 

Some include dozens of Pokémon projects – including 15 movies, countless games and more than 700 television episodes. He debuted in the franchise in 1998 in Pokemon: The First Movie. He was best known for playing James from Team Rocket and Meowth, but also voiced Professor Oak and Gary Oak. 

Beyond Pokémon, Carthart also voiced Vector the Crocodile in the Sonic games and appeared in three episodes of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show that ran from 2003 through 2010.