Dragon Ball: Dale Wilson, the Voice of Cell, Has Died
Cell is by far one of the most iconic villains of the Dragon Ball franchise, as well as anime in general. A large part of his popularity comes from his charming yet intimidating personality, his flare for the dramatics, and his unmistakable voice. All these traits were first communicated to Western fans in the Ocean dub by the talented voice actor Dale Wilson, one of the most beloved in the industry.
On January 6, 2025, Wilson passed away after an arduous battle against prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease. His wife, Gail Wilson, was the one who announced via Facebook, letting his fans know about this tragic loss.
Dave Wilson Passed Away at the Age of 74
Fans Took to Social Media To Share Their Support
In the early morning of January 7, 2025, Gail Wilson created a post on her husband’s Facebook profile to announce that the beloved actor had passed away. The voice actor died on the afternoon of the previous day, after a long battle against his cancer and Parkinson’s disease. According to Gail, Dale was ready to move on, letting fans know that he could now rest in peace. His wife was understandably devastated about the news and did not share any more details about his passing.
Fans immediately flooded the post with loving and supportive words for Wilson’s family and friends. Many followers took the time to thank him for his illustrious career, as well as the hours of enjoyment that his roles as a voice actor brought them. The loss of such a talented and beloved voice actor is a hard hit for the anime community. His legacy will be fondly remembered by fans, who will continue celebrating his work.
Wilson Had an Illustrious Career
He Was More Than Dragon Ball’s Iconic Bio-Android
Dale Wilson was best known among anime fans for his extensive work on the Ocean Group’s version of the Dragon Ball series. While Cell is undeniably his most popular character, as his interpretation of this overwhelmingly strong villain is one of the best, he also gave life to many other characters. Wilson was also the one who voiced Kami, King Yema, Goz, and Android 8, one of Goku’s best friends. He was also the voice of Sakura Cardcaptor’s powerful Clow Reed, one of the best side characters in anime.
Anime was not the only field in which Wilson stood out, as he was also loved by many for his incredible contributions to Western animation. He brought the popular Captain Grid Iron from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero to life, along with Mutt, Overkill, and Skydive. He was also the voice of Akuma, one of the most popular characters in the Street Fighter franchise. He also contributed to the Marvel animated universe as Principal Kelly in X-Men Evolution and Senator Robert Kelly in 2009’s Iron Man: Armored Adventures show.
Dale Wilson might have passed on, but his work, the joy he brought millions of children, and his legacy will keep on shining for many decades more. He was a big part of many anime fans’ lives, and they will make sure to honor his memory for as long as they live.
Dragon Ball Z
- Release Date
- 1989 - 1996
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
- Writers
- Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue
- Franchise(s)
- Dragon Ball
Cast
Masako NozawaSon Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)- Ryo HorikawaVegeta (voice)
Dragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku's brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Creator(s)
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
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