Peter Fernandez, Voice of Speed Racer, 1927 - 2010

Peter Fernandez (left) and Corinne Orr (right) at the New York Anime Festival 2007

Peter Fernandez, best known to animation fans as the voice of Speed Racer, passed away this morning due to lung cancer at the age of 83. Fernandez was instrumental in many of the earliest anime imports to the United States, including Speed Racer and Marine Boy, working as a translator/script writer, director, and voice actor on those shows, as well as the composer to the theme song for Speed Racer. In addition to a cameo role in the live-action Speed Racer movie and a recurring role as Spritle in Speed Racer: The Next Generation, Fernandez was also the voice director for Cartoon Network's Courage the Cowardly Dog and Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers.

Read Toonzone's interview with Peter Fernandez and Corinne Orr from the 2007 New York Anime Festival.