The versatile voice that brought iconic anime heroes to life
In short: From the streets of Lancaster to the heights of global animation, Billy Kametz became a recognizable presence in the English-speaking world. Though his career spanned only a few years, his vocal performances in massive franchises like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Fire Emblem left an indelible mark on the industry.
Billy P. Kametz began his journey in the theatre, performing at West Chester University before moving to Sherman Oaks, California, in 2016. It was during this period that he transitioned into voice acting, eventually securing major roles for prominent distributors like Viz Media. His ability to inhabit diverse characters helped him become a staple in both anime dubbing and video game localization.
His filmography includes some of the most recognizable characters in modern Japanese media. He voiced Josuke Higashikata in the Diamond Is Unbreakable arc of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, as well as Takuto Maruki in Persona 5 Royal and Naofumi Iwatani in The Rising of the Shield Hero. At the 4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2020, he received the Best VA Performance (EN) prize for this role. His range extended to mobile gaming as well, providing the voice for Colt in Brawl Stars.
Tragically, Kametz's career was cut short by a battle with colorectal cancer. In April 2022, he revealed that the disease had metastasized to his spine, lungs, and liver. Despite the onset of chemotherapy and radiation, his presence continued to be felt in the industry; he was able to posthumously reprise roles such as Ferdinand von Arag in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and characters in Demon Slayer games.
In Hershey, Pennsylvania, Kametz died at 35 years old on June 9, 2022. Following his diagnosis, a GoFundMe campaign launched in May 2022 raised over US$184,000 to assist with his medical and living expenses, reflecting the deep connection and support he held within the voice acting community.
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