It’s been a busy week, and a sad one, as video game and animation fans learned of the deaths of three well-known voice actors across the two mediums.
First was Jeff Garcia, a comedian who passed on Wednesday, December 10, at age 50. Garcia was best known for playing Sheen in Jimmy Neutron and Planet Sheen. After having a stroke and being hospitalized for pneumonia in November, he was hospitalized again earlier this week before being taken off life support.
Garcia reprised his voice acting roles as Pip in Barnyard and Rinaldo in Happy Feet for their respective video game tie-ins and Sheen in various Jimmy Neutron and Nickelodeon games, with his final voice role being Nicktoons & the Dice of Destiny from this past September.
That same day, Jim Ward passed at age 66 after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Ward played Captain Qwark throughout Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank franchise, along with Ben 10’s Diamondhead and Doug Dimmadome on Fairly OddParents. In 2021, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart became his final voice acting role and saw him play both Qwark and his alt-universe variant, Captain Quantum.
And on Friday, we learned 63-year-old voice actor Julie Mayfield died on November 20. For anime fans, Mayfield’s best remembered as the voice of Dr. Kureha and Boa Marigold for Funimation’s One Piece dub, and she had also done voice work for Black Butler (Queen Victoria) and Fruits Basket (Kyoko and Ritsu’s mother).
All three voice actors have been individually eulogized by family, colleagues, and fans in recent days. Garcia’s son Joseph remembered his father’s talent as “one of a kind. […] He has made such an impact on people’s lives internationally, whether you grew up watching Jimmy Neutron, or shared a laugh with him at one of his shows. He was a hero, [and] I idolized him. He may be gone, but he will NEVER be forgotten.”
“Almost anyone who knew Julie referred to her as a bright light. Her laugh was big and infectious, her talent enormous, and she was always a joy to work with,” wrote Mayfield’s talent agent, Mary Collins. “She was always a team player—fun, generous, and endlessly creative. She meant so much to us, and I will forever be grateful that she chose us to be her agents, colleagues, and longtime friends. Julie, thank you for the light, the laughter, and the years. We will miss you dearly.” The agency also revealed a memorial service for Mayfield will be held sometime in 2026.
“[Jim Ward’s] contribution to the Ratchet & Clank franchise is immeasurable,” said Insomniac Games. “As Qwark, he is a legend in the eyes of Insomniacs and our players, and a talent rightfully recognized across multiple industries. From our galaxy to the cosmos and beyond…we’ll miss you, Captain. Thanks for the Qwarktastic memories.”
In a second statement, Brian Allegier, a longtime creative director at Insomniac and for the Ratchet franchise specifically, lauded Ward for his “low-key, but gentle presence. Jim was was an incredible performer who gave 115% every session. He was a pleasure to work with, and I’m deeply saddened by his passing. But I’m also profoundly grateful for the joy he brought to Insomniacs and to the millions of fans who love Captain Qwark. His talent, worth, and humor will always stay with me.”
Words from Brian Allgeier, the Creative Director on the Ratchet & Clank Future series. pic.twitter.com/xRl5Beh59a
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) December 11, 2025
io9 extends its sympathies and thoughts to Ward, Mayfield, and Garcia’s loved ones.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Read the full article here
