Famed Star Wars voice actor Tom Kane — best known for voicing Yoda, Admiral Yularen and Admiral Ackbar in several movies, TV series, video games and other media — sadly suffered a stroke in November that has currently left him without the ability to speak.
The news broke via his daughter’s post on his official Facebook page earlier this week.
According to his daughter Sam “Our family wanted to share why my dad has been MIA. About two months ago he had a left side stroke that gave him right sided weakness and damage to the speech center of his brain.”
She continued “This means right now he cannot efficiently communicate verbally, nor read or spell. He is still competent and very much himself, but can only get out a few words right now.”
While Kane is undergoing treatment, it’s possible that his career as a voice actor may be over. However, Sam is quick to point out that Tom “remains in good spirits and his extreme stubbornness has helped him already show improvements in speech.”
Kane’s fans were quick to share well wishes both on the initial post and on Twitter.
One of those well wishers was Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.
Tom Kane is an enormously gifted actor & a genuinely nice person. I look forward to him making a complete & full recovery. I know the Voice-Over Community & his countless fans feel exactly the same way. Sending love to him & the entire Kane family. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/hpRZ7DQEPt
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 30, 2020
Kane has become closely associated with the role of Ackbar in recent years, and expressed displeasure in his treatment and off camera death in The Last Jedi.
In addition to his Star Wars roles, Kane has voiced other characters for Disney including Lord Monkey Fist on Kim Possible.
On The Powerpuff Girls, Kane voiced the villainous HIM.
Other numerous credits include roles on “Archer,” “Scooby Doo,” “Shrek 3,” “Robot Chicken,” “Kim Possible,” “The Avengers,” “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” “Iron Man,” “The Wild Thornberrys” and more.
Kane began his acting career at the young age of 15 in his hometown of Kansas City. According to IMDb, Kane already had an impressive resume by the time he graduated from college, voicing hundreds of commercials.
[Source: Facebook, NY Post]
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