Billy Kametz
Billy Kametz | |
---|---|
![]() Kametz in 2021 | |
Born | |
Died | June 9, 2022[1] Hershey, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 35)
Occupation | Voice actor |
Years active | 2016–2022 |
Agent | AVO Talent |
Notable work |
|
Billy P. Kametz (/ˌkəˈmɛts/;[2] March 22, 1987 – June 9, 2022) was an American voice and stage actor. He was best known for his work dubbing anime and video games. Kametz began his voice acting career in 2016. He provided the English voices for Josuke Higashikata in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable, Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal, Naofumi Iwatani in The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Ferdinand von Aegir in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Kametz died from colorectal cancer at the age of 35.
Early life
[edit]Kametz was born on March 22, 1987, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,[1] and was raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[3] He had a sister.[4] He attended West Chester University.[5]
Career
[edit]In 2016, Kametz moved to Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles to play Aladdin in the final performance of Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular.[6] While living in California, Kametz began working as a voice actor. He achieved one of his first major roles when he was cast as Josuke Higashikata in the Viz Media dub of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable.[7] He went on to voice other prominent roles, including Colt in Brawl Stars, Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal, Galo Thymos in Promare, and Ren in Pokémon.[8][9]
In 2020, for his performance as Naofumi Iwatani in The Rising of the Shield Hero, Kametz won the Best VA Performance (EN) award at the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.[10] Apart from animations, he also provided his voice for many characters in various related video games.[8][9]
Personal life
[edit]Kametz dated voice actress Erica Lindbeck.[1][3]
Cancer and death
[edit]On April 26, 2022, Kametz revealed that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer ten weeks prior,[11] which had metastasized to his liver, lungs and spine,[8] and that he had begun chemotherapy and radiation therapy.[11] He also announced that he would be taking a hiatus from voice acting and moving back to Hershey, Pennsylvania.[11] A GoFundMe page was posted on May 1, 2022, to help cover travel, insurance costs, medical bills not covered by insurance, and everyday life necessities;[12] these online fundraising efforts yielded more than US$184,000.[3]
Five weeks after the fundraiser was launched, Kametz died on June 9, 2022, in Hershey, Pennsylvania at the age of 35.[1][8][13]
Filmography
[edit]Animation
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Owl House | Nevareth | Episode: "Witches Before Wizards" | |
2020–2023 | Lego Monkie Kid | Macaque | Season 1–Season 4 episode 5, released posthumously; "New Adventures" dedicated in memory | [14] |
2023 | RWBY | Roman Torchwick | 2 episodes; released posthumously; "Tea Amidst Terrible Trouble" dedicated in memory | |
Hailey's On It! | Road Rash, Paul | 2 episodes; released posthumously |
Anime
[edit]Video games
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crunchyroll Anime Awards | 2020 | Best VA Performance (EN) | The Rising of the Shield Hero | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Billy Kametz Obituary". The Patriot-News. June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Billy Kametz (Voice of Josuke Higashikata from Diamond is Unbreakable) Interview | Behind the Voice, retrieved May 30, 2023
- ^ a b c Hoopes, Zack (June 12, 2022). "Central Pa. native who has won accolades for voice acting dies at 35". The Patriot-News. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Ushe, Naledi (June 12, 2022). "'Pokémon' voice actor Billy Kametz dies from colon cancer at 35: 'Sincere, humble and loving'". USA Today. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Theater department shines this spring". The Quad: Student News Service of WCU. January 26, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Billy Kametz". Sakura-Con. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 6, 2018). "Viz Media Licenses JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable Manga & Live-Action Film, Golden Wind Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Dupre, Elyse (June 13, 2022). "Pokémon Voice Actor Billy Kametz Dead at 35 After Colon Cancer Battle". E! Online. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Doolan, Liam (June 12, 2022). "Fire Emblem And Pokémon Voice Actor Billy Kametz Has Passed Away". Nintendo Life. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Goslin, Austen (February 15, 2020). "Demon Slayer takes home top prize at Crunchyroll's Anime Awards". Polygon. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c Luster, Joseph (April 26, 2022). "Voice Actor Billy Kametz Reveals Stage IV Colon Cancer Diagnosis". Otaku USA. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Hazra, Adriana (April 30, 2022). "GoFundMe Campaign Launches for Voice Actor Billy Kametz Following Stage IV Colon Cancer Diagnosis". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 11, 2022). "Voice Actor Billy Kametz Dies at 35". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
- ^ "Macaque". Lego Monkie Kid. Season 1. Episode 9. October 3, 2020. Event occurs at 11:10. Amazon Kids+.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Billy Kametz (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 16, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 6, 2018). "Viz Media Licenses JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable Manga & Live-Action Film, Golden Wind Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Kametz, Billy [@BillyKametz] (October 14, 2018). "I am so excited to announce that I will be voicing Metal Lee in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations on Toonami! No more contracting words for me!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World! (2019– ) Full Cast & Crew". imdb.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (December 20, 2018). "Funimation to Stream Rising of the Shield Hero Anime, Crunchyroll Announces Dub Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (May 17, 2019). "Aniplex of America Reveals Cells at Work! Anime's English Dub Cast, BD Release (Update)". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (September 12, 2019). "Promare Anime Film's English-dubbed Clip Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c Frost, Caroline (June 12, 2022). "Billy Kametz Dies: Popular Video Game And Anime Voice Actor Was 35". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (September 12, 2019). "Crunchyroll to Stream Ahiru no Sora, Days of Urashimasakatasen Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "Teasing Master Takagi-san S2 English Netflix Credits". Imgur. December 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ Kametz, Billy [@BillyKametz] (December 21, 2019). "Episode 1 of Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is out of @Crunchyroll!! I absolutely adore this show! Directed by none other than JoBro @JalenKCassell who is amazing! I play Asmodeus Alice! I hope you enjoy!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Luster, Joseph (May 9, 2021). "Meet the English Dub Cast of Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (March 8, 2021). "Funimation Streams 'Suppose a Kid From the Last Dungeon Boonies Moved to a Starter Town,' Kaguya-sama: Love is War Season 1 Anime's English Dubs". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (September 22, 2018). "Mr. Osomatsu Anime's English Dub Casts Matsuno Sextuplets". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (May 26, 2021). "Crunchyroll Reveals English Dub Casts, Premieres for Tokyo Revengers, To Your Eternity, 86 Eighty Six, More Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ "Character". Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song- Official USA Website. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (July 14, 2021). "Funimation Streams The Prince of Tennis II Hyotei vs. Rikkai Game of Future Anime's English Dub on July 15". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Luster, Joseph (July 24, 2021). "Sentai Shares Vinland Saga English Dub Preview, Reveals Full Cast". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Friedman, Nicholas (August 4, 2021). "MAGATSU WAHRHEIT English Dub Announced, Cast and Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ Friedman, Nicholas (September 12, 2021). "Ikebukuro West Gate Park English Dub Announced, Cast & Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
- ^ Friedman, Nicholas (September 24, 2021). "RE-MAIN English Dub Announced, Cast and Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ Friedman, Nicholas (November 14, 2021). "Otherside Picnic English Dub Announced, Cast and Crew Revealed". Funimation. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Luster, Joseph (March 15, 2022). "Tokyo 24th Ward English Dub Heads to Crunchyroll, Full Cast Revealed". Crunchyroll. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (March 29, 2022). "Crunchyroll Streams The Prince of Tennis TV Anime, OVAs With New English Dub". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Billy Kametz: Home". billykametz.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
- ^ "Your voice brought Angelo to life, bringing joy to many.
Thank you for your contributions.
A moment of silence for Billy Kametz". Facebook. AFK Arena. Retrieved June 16, 2022. - ^ "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
MALE ANNOUNCER – Billy Kametz
- ^ "One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows (2020 Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 13, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "Fire Emblem Heroes – New Heroes (Harmony amid Chaos)". YouTube. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ Kametz, Billy [@billykametz] (September 8, 2020). "Super pumped to voice Nenji Ogata in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim!! Can't wait to play this thing on 9/22! Major shoutout to @WritingMadness for directing the crap out of this! Also I'm growing a pomp. Enough is enough😉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles (2021 Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 1, 2021. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "Billy Kametz voicing Ran in Epic Seven". Youtube. SmileGate.
- ^ Kadokawa Games. Relayer. Clouded Leopard Entertainment. Scene: Ending credits, 14:14 in, EN CAST; 14:37 in, EN Other VOICE CAST.
- ^ The Elder Scrolls Online [@TESOnline] (June 15, 2022). "We are deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of @BillyKametz. Billy was a talented voice actor and singer who voiced several NPCs for ESO, including some found in the High Isle Chapter. Our sympathies and condolences are with his family and loved ones" (Tweet). Retrieved June 16, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Liu, Stephanie (June 12, 2022). "Billy Kametz, Voice of Josuke and Ferdinand, Has Died". Siliconera. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
Kametz' voice work for Ferdinand will appear in the upcoming Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, releasing on June 24, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Billy Kametz at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Billy Kametz at IMDb
- Billy Kametz at Behind The Voice Actors
- 1987 births
- 2022 deaths
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- Crunchyroll Anime Awards winners
- Deaths from cancer in Pennsylvania
- Deaths from colorectal cancer in the United States
- Male actors from Pennsylvania
- People from Hershey, Pennsylvania
- People from Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- 21st-century American male actors