# Billy Kametz
**Billy Kametz** (March 22, 1987 – June 9, 2022) was an American voice actor known for English-language dubbing roles in anime and video games, including Naofumi Iwatani in *The Rising of the Shield Hero*, Josuke Higashikata in *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable*, and Takuto Maruki in *Persona 5 Royal*.[1](https://animecorner.me/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35/) • [2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) He died at 35 from stage IV colon cancer, less than two months after making his diagnosis public.[3](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1987; died June 9, 2022, at M.S. Hershey Medical Center, aged 35[1](https://animecorner.me/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35/) • [3](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35) |
| Hometown | Hershey, Pennsylvania[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6446676/) • [2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) |
| Path to acting | Break with Disney as entertainment staff on a Disney cruise line, then the role of Aladdin in Disneyland's Musical Spectacular[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) |
| Signature anime roles | Naofumi Iwatani (*The Rising of the Shield Hero*), Josuke Higashikata (*JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable*), White Blood Cell (*Cells at Work*), Rui (*Demon Slayer*), Galo (*Promare*), Osomatsu (*Mr. Osomatsu*)[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) |
| Game roles | Takuto Maruki (*Persona 5 Royal*), Ferdinand von Aegir (*Fire Emblem: Three Houses*, *Fire Emblem Heroes*, *Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes*), Blue (*Pokémon Masters*), Raidou Kuzunoha (*Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster*)[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) • [5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/1022635/billy-kametz/credits/) |
| Award | Best Voice Actor Performance (EN) at the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, for Naofumi Iwatani[6](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/billy-kametz-1987-2022-attack-on-titan-pokemon-journeys-voice-actor) |
| Illness and death | Announced Stage IV colon cancer on April 26, 2022, and stepped away from voice acting; died June 9, 2022[7](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/4/26/voice-actor-billy-kametz-shares-stage-iv-colon-cancer-diagnosis) • [3](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35) |
| Memorial | Annual charity video game stream fundraiser in his name began in 2023, with a second edition on May 25, 2024[8](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/5/22/billy-kametz-memorial-fundraiser-2024) |
## Early life and start in acting
Kametz was born in 1987, and was originally from [Hershey, Pennsylvania](https://www.edgepedia.org/hershey-pennsylvania).[1](https://animecorner.me/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6446676/)
He had wanted to be an actor since early childhood.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) His break came with Disney, first as part of the entertainment staff on a Disney cruise line, and then in California when he was offered the role of Aladdin in Disneyland's Musical Spectacular.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) He then became a Los Angeles-based voice actor working in cartoons, anime, video games, and commercials.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6446676/)
## Voice acting career
**Anime.** Kametz's best-known roles were Naofumi Iwatani, the lead of the 2019 anime *The Rising of the Shield Hero*, Josuke Higashikata in *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable*, White Blood Cell in *Cells at Work*, Rui in *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba*, Galo in *Promare*, and Osomatsu in *Mr. Osomatsu*.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) He was also remembered for voicing Shinei Nouzen in *86: Eighty-Six*, and his roles included Nicolo in *Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2* and Marcus Annius Verus in Netflix's *[Thermae Romae Novae](https://www.edgepedia.org/thermae-romae-novae)*.[1](https://animecorner.me/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35/) Other anime credits reported at his death include *Attack on Titan*, *Boruto*, *Pokémon Journeys*, and *Neon Genesis Evangelion*.[9](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/billy-kametz-death-age-cause-b2099154.html?curator=upstract.com)
**Video games.** In Nintendo games he voiced [Ferdinand](https://www.edgepedia.org/ferdinand) von Aegir in *Fire Emblem: Three Houses* and *Fire Emblem Heroes*, and Blue in *Pokémon Masters*.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) His game credits include Takuto Maruki in *[Persona](https://www.edgepedia.org/persona-series) 5 Royal* (2019 and the 2022 re-release), Raidou Kuzunoha in *Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster* (2020), Naoto Kurogane in *BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle*, Jerrom in *Triangle Strategy*, Robin in *Lost Eidolons*, and Tearer in *AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative*.[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/1022635/billy-kametz/credits/) • [10](https://megatenwiki.com/wiki/Billy_Kametz)
For his performance as Naofumi, he won Best Voice Actor Performance (EN) at the 2020 [Crunchyroll Anime Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/crunchyroll-anime-awards).[6](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/billy-kametz-1987-2022-attack-on-titan-pokemon-journeys-voice-actor) • [11](https://kotaku.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-pokemon-fire-emblem-persona-5-1849053311)
## Illness and death
In a video posted on April 26, 2022, Kametz announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer and was stepping away from voice acting to undergo treatment.[7](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/4/26/voice-actor-billy-kametz-shares-stage-iv-colon-cancer-diagnosis) He explained that about ten weeks earlier he had felt pain in one of his shoulder blades that spread elsewhere; after going to the emergency room and receiving a CAT scan, he received the formal diagnosis and began chemotherapy and radiation therapy, returning to Pennsylvania to be with his family.[7](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/4/26/voice-actor-billy-kametz-shares-stage-iv-colon-cancer-diagnosis) He said in the video that the cancer had spread to his liver, lungs, and spine, and he asked fans to support the actors who would replace him in his roles.[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) A GoFundMe campaign for his treatment costs was started on April 28, 2022, with A Jinnie McManus.[7](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/4/26/voice-actor-billy-kametz-shares-stage-iv-colon-cancer-diagnosis)
**Death.** Kametz died on June 9, 2022, at M.S. Hershey Medical Center, aged 35; the news was shared by his agency, Point of Contact.[3](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35) • [9](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/billy-kametz-death-age-cause-b2099154.html?curator=upstract.com) He was survived by his parents, William and Cheryl, his sister, Nikki Kametz Lees, and his girlfriend, the voice actor [Erica Lindbeck](https://www.edgepedia.org/erica-lindbeck).[2](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/) His family asked that memorial contributions be made to the Colon Cancer Coalition, an organization dedicated to early detection of colon cancer.[3](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35) • [12](https://cellstring.com/news/article/billy-kametz-a-voice-that-will-stay-with-us-forever)
## Posthumous releases and memorial
Some work reached audiences after his death. He had recorded all of Ferdinand's lines for *Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes* (2022) before falling ill, and the final episode of *86: Eighty-Six* featuring his voice was released posthumously, with a dedication at the end of the episode.[12](https://cellstring.com/news/article/billy-kametz-a-voice-that-will-stay-with-us-forever) *The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie* (2023) and *Lost Eidolons* (2022) carry an "In Memory of" credit for him.[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/1022635/billy-kametz/credits/) Posthumous credits also include *The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom* (2023), *The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition* (2023), and *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sweep the Board!* (2024, as Rui).[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/1022635/billy-kametz/credits/)
**Memorial fundraiser.** Friends of Kametz organized a charity video game stream in his honor beginning in 2023, with a second annual fundraiser announced for May 25, 2024.[8](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/5/22/billy-kametz-memorial-fundraiser-2024) Commentators noted the density of his six-year voice acting career, which included prominent Nintendo roles across *Fire Emblem*, *Pokémon*, and *Monster Hunter* franchises as well as lead anime dub roles.[13](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/60674/billy-kametz-1987-2022)
## References
1. [Voice Actor Billy Kametz Passes Away at 35, Anime Corner (June 11, 2022)](https://animecorner.me/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35/)
2. [Billy Kametz, 'Fire Emblem' and 'Pokemon' Voice Actor, Dies at 35, TheWrap (June 12, 2022)](https://www.thewrap.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-dies-35/)
3. [Voice Actor Billy Kametz Passes Away at 35, Crunchyroll News (June 11, 2022)](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/6/11/voice-actor-billy-kametz-passes-away-at-35)
4. [Billy Kametz, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6446676/)
5. [Billy Kametz, Video Game Credits, MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/person/1022635/billy-kametz/credits/)
6. [Billy Kametz (1987–2022), 'Attack on Titan,' 'Pokémon Journeys' voice actor, Legacy.com / The Dallas Morning News](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/billy-kametz-1987-2022-attack-on-titan-pokemon-journeys-voice-actor)
7. [Voice Actor Billy Kametz Shares Stage IV Colon Cancer Diagnosis, Crunchyroll News (April 26, 2022)](https://www.crunchyroll.com/pl/news/latest/2022/4/26/voice-actor-billy-kametz-shares-stage-iv-colon-cancer-diagnosis)
8. [2nd Annual Billy Kametz Memorial Fundraiser Kicks Off on May 25, Crunchyroll News (May 22, 2024)](https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/5/22/billy-kametz-memorial-fundraiser-2024)
9. [Billy Kametz death: Voice actor dies aged 35, The Independent (June 12, 2022)](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/billy-kametz-death-age-cause-b2099154.html?curator=upstract.com)
10. [Billy Kametz, Megami Tensei Wiki](https://megatenwiki.com/wiki/Billy_Kametz)
11. [Demon Slayer, Pokémon Voice Actor Billy Kametz Passes Away At 35, Kotaku (June 2022)](https://kotaku.com/billy-kametz-voice-actor-pokemon-fire-emblem-persona-5-1849053311)
12. [Billy Kametz - A Voice That Will Stay With Us Forever, CellString](https://cellstring.com/news/article/billy-kametz-a-voice-that-will-stay-with-us-forever)
13. [Billy Kametz: 1987 - 2022, Nintendo World Report (June 11, 2022)](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/60674/billy-kametz-1987-2022)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Voice performers › American voice performers › Animation and cartoon voice actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license