A Tragic Loss for the Voice Acting World: Master Actor Rif Hutton Passes Away at 73
The world of voice acting and performance is saying goodbye to one of the industry's most respected and experienced figures. Master actor Rif Hutton, who brought characters to life in many iconic projects such as Astro Boy, The Wind Rises, and Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 73. In a statement released by his family, it was noted that the artist passed away peacefully at his home in Pasadena, California, due to glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer he had been battling for about a year.
Rif Hutton left a deep impression on anime fans, particularly with his voice work for the character Dr. Tenma in the 2003 Astro Boy series. Not limited to television series, the artist also appeared in the English dubbing casts of significant films such as Studio Ghibli's Oscar-nominated masterpiece The Wind Rises and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. In the gaming world, he proved his talent to a wide audience by voicing the character General Glauca in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, a cinematic entry in the Final Fantasy universe.
The artist's career, spanning over 40 years, was not limited to voice acting studios. Hutton was a familiar face to television audiences for his roles as Dr. Ron Welch in the popular 1990s series Doogie Howser, M.D. and Alan Mattoni in the series JAG. He also appeared on screen in the science fiction world with his role as a Klingon guard in the film Star Trek: Generations, and with guest performances in cult comedies such as Seinfeld and Married... with Children. Married to fellow voice actor Bridget Hoffman, Hutton was known in the industry for his kindness and professionalism.
His colleague and friend Steve Apostolina, in an emotional tribute following the artist's passing, stated, "Rif Hutton was one of a kind; there will never be another like him. He was always the person who came to the studio the most prepared and had the greatest respect for his work." The passing of Rif Hutton is described as a great loss for both the anime community and Hollywood. The dozens of unforgettable characters he left behind and the inspiring legacy he bequeathed to young artists will ensure he always lives on among the giants of the voice acting profession.
