Tony Jay

[Ikari Warrior]

I heard from my sister today that Tony Jay passed away. I haven't been able to find anything on the 'net about it though. Can anyone confirm this?

For those of you who don't know who he is, he's a very famous voice actor (and real actor) and he has done many big parts. In animation, he did the voice of Shear Kahn in Disney's The Jungle Book, as well as Tail Spin. He also had a guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and has done VA for many video games, including the Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver series, and he did the voice of Magneto in the recent X-Men Legends games.

I'd be happy to hear that news of his death is an unfounded rumor. However, he is quite up there in years, and it wouldn't surprise me if he's passed away, but I would be no less sad.

[Bernard_Monsha]

Sad but true. (http://www.animated-news.com/archives/00005385.html)

[Ikari Warrior]

Damn. Thanks Bernard. The world has lost a great talent this day. He was much younger than I thought he was, though.

[Reidar]

He was a classic. I grew up with The Jungle Book.

And I had no idea he was the voice of the Elder God in the Legacy of Kain series.

If anyone wants to see him at work, Legacy of Kain: Defiance has videos of his outtakes. They're hilarious; during one, in the middle of a heavy, essential narrative, he randomly breaks out in opera, and the rest of the cast join in.

[tenshi_a]

No! Not Tony Jay! Oh god, argh!! T_T He was one of my all-time favourite voice actors!

It's not too long since I heard him in anything either; he was narrating the recent remake of The Bard's Tale (and he had all the best lines!). He had a very good voice for narration. And he did the "classic proper educated English" voice so well... and yet, just about any other European accent was in his grasp as well... and... villains... he could destroy the greatest hero with the slightest inflection. Even if he was supposed to be on their side. He was just so excellent at what he did.

Oh, no more Tony Jay! This brings me immense sadness.

BTW when they say he was Shere Khan in Disney's Jungle Book, they mean the later TV series, and film, and everything, not the original 1960s film.

[Gannon]

He voiced his *** off in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

[333jeffery]

He was an awesome VA. Wonderful deep voice, with too many roles to list (I liked him as Megabyte on ReBoot). Sad news, indeed....