The Voice of Yoda Falls Silent: Tom Kane Dies at 64
Iconic voice actor Tom Kane, known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Powerpuff Girls, has died at 64 from complications of a 2020 stroke, according to TMZ.
Some news I wish I wasn’t writing: Tom Kane, one of the all-timers in voice acting, has died at 64.
Kane suffered a stroke back in 2020 that effectively ended his career. His death stems from complications related to that stroke, according to TMZ, which also ran a statement from his rep, Zach McGinnis.
"Though his voice may now be silent, the characters, stories, and love he gave to the world will live on forever."
If you ever watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you know Tom Kane’s work even if you didn’t know his name. He was the show’s booming narrator and also stepped in as Yoda — not easy shoes to fill, and he still made it feel seamless. And if your childhood leaned Cartoon Network, he was Professor Utonium on The Powerpuff Girls. Big roles, big footprint.
Where you heard Tom Kane
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — series narrator and the voice of Yoda
- The Powerpuff Girls — Professor Utonium
McGinnis also made a point to talk about Kane the person, not just the resume. He described him as a devoted husband and dad who, with his wife, built a family of nine kids — three biological and six welcomed through adoption and fostering. That’s a life well lived, on and off mic.
I’ll update if more details roll in, but for now: a tough loss for animation and for anyone who ever got chills from that Clone Wars intro.