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Tom Kane, a prolific voice actor whose signature roles included Master Yoda in a number of animated \u201cStar Wars\u201d shows as well as Professor Utonium on \u201cThe Powerpuff Girls<\/a>,\u201d has died. He was 64. <\/p>\n Kane died Monday from complications of a stroke he suffered in 2020, his representative Zachery McGinnis confirmed to The Times. The voice actor\u2019s death was announced on social media<\/a> by his talent agency, Galactic Productions. <\/p>\n \u201cFrom his unforgettable performances in Star Wars to countless animated series, documentaries, and games, Tom brought wisdom, strength, humor, and heart to every role he touched,\u201d reads a statement posted Monday on Galactic Productions\u2019 Facebook page. \u201cHis voice became part of our lives, our memories, and the stories we carry with us. … Though his voice may now be silent, the characters, stories, and love he gave to the world will live on forever.\u201d <\/p>\n Kane\u2019s first joined the \u201cStar Wars\u201d franchise through video games in the 1990s, voicing droids, imperial officers and rebel pilots in installments such as \u201cStar Wars: Shadows of the Empire\u201d and \u201cStar Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter.\u201d He would go on to voice numerous other characters, including the iconic protocol droid C-3PO, Jedi Master Yoda and the bounty hunter Boba Fett<\/a>, in various games over the years. <\/p>\n He continued to voice Yoda in animated \u201cStar Wars\u201d shows, first in \u201cStar Wars: Clone Wars,\u201d Genndy Tartakovsky\u2019s series set after the events of the 2002 film \u201cEpisode II \u2014 Attack of the Clones,\u201d in which Kane also voiced C-3PO. <\/p>\n But Kane\u2019s most notable \u201cStar Wars\u201d role was as the narrator of the 2008 film \u201cStar Wars: The Clone Wars<\/a>\u201d and the subsequent series of the same name, where he kicked off each adventure as the spoken version of the classic \u201cStar Wars\u201d opening scrawl to set the stage for the story that followed. <\/p>\n \u201cTom loved \u2018Star Wars,\u2019\u201d Dave Filoni, Lucasfilm\u2019s president and chief creative officer, said in the studio\u2019s tribute<\/a> to Kane. \u201cFans may best remember him as the voice of the animated Yoda, but truly his voice was the spirit of the Clone Wars. His opening narration introduced an entire generation to the \u2018Star Wars\u2019 galaxy getting viewers ready for another adventure far, far, away.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was first starting out as a director I was fortunate to have someone as legendary as Tom there to help me learn and guide me towards what the actors needed. Very Yoda like indeed,\u201d Filoni added. <\/p>\n Besides his \u201cStar Wars\u201d roles, Kane\u2019s credits also include the devoted valet Woodhouse in \u201cArcher<\/a>,\u201d the mutant Magneto in Marvel video games, the prim and proper head of house Mr. Herriman in \u201cFoster\u2019s Home for Imaginary Friends<\/a>\u201d and the flamboyant villain Him in \u201cThe Powerpuff Girls.\u201d <\/p>\n But Kane said in a 2014 Reddit AMA that \u201cThe Powerpuff Girls\u2019\u201d Professor Utonium, who combined sugar, spice and everything nice \u2014 along with chemical X \u2014 to create the super-powered kindergartners, was the character he most identified with. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a dorky dad who loves his kids,\u201d Kane wrote in a comment<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty much me.\u201d<\/p>\n Tara Strong, who voiced Powerpuff Girl Blossom, described Kane as \u201cBrilliant. Giving. Funny. Supportive. [And] Kind.\u201d in her tribute. <\/p>\n \u201cThey say there\u2019s no such thing as a perfect man\u2026 those people never met [Tom Kane]. I\u2019ve never in my life met a sweeter soul or a better human being,\u201d Strong wrote in a Monday post on X<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m beyond grateful for all the hours we spent together in the booth, and so grateful we got to see him again recently<\/a>\u2026 hug him tight and tell him how much we love and miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, Professor. You were the best dad, the best human, and I feel so honored to have known you and called you my friend,\u201d she added. <\/p>\n Born April 15, 1962, in Overland Park, Kan., Kane began his voice acting career at age 15 doing commercials in his hometown of Kansas City, according to IMDb<\/a>. In addition to his work in games, film and television, Kane has lent his voice to announce awards shows, including the 78th, 80th, 83rd, 84th and 90th Academy Awards broadcasts, as well as on attractions at Disney Theme parks. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m also glad that his characters and voice will live on in many ways,\u201d Filoni said in his tribute. \u201cWherever you go there\u2019s always a chance that Tom is the voice you hear guiding you through Disneyland<\/a> or a galaxy far, far away.\u201d <\/p>\n Kane is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their nine children, six of whom joined the family through adoption and fostering. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n