# Christopher Ayres
**Christopher Ayres** (Christopher Owen Ayres; May 16, 1965 – October 18, 2021) was an American voice actor, ADR director, and scriptwriter best known as the English voice of Frieza in the *Dragon Ball* franchise, a role he held from 2010 until 2019.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) He worked primarily on English dubs of Japanese anime for studios including [Funimation](https://www.edgepedia.org/funimation), ADV Films, OkraTron 5000, New Generation Pictures, and Seraphim Digital / [Sentai Filmworks](https://www.edgepedia.org/sentai-filmworks).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chris-ayres) • [3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1965, Richmond, Virginia; October 18, 2021, Houston, Texas, aged 56[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) • [2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chris-ayres) |
| Cause of death | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), following a long battle with the disease[4](https://www.thewrap.com/christopher-ayres-voice-actor-best-known-as-frieza-from-dragon-ball-z-kei-dies-at-56/) |
| Signature role | Frieza in *Dragon Ball Z Kai*, *Dragon Ball Super*, the 2018 film *Dragon Ball Super: Broly*, and *Dragon Ball* video games[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) • [5](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/obituary-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died-at-age-56) |
| Other noted roles | Kei Kurono in *Gantz*, Prince Soma in *Black Butler*, Suitengu in *Speed Grapher*, Shingen Takeda in *Sengoku Basara*, Corset in *Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt*[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chris-ayres) • [6](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dragon-ball-chris-ayres-death-cause-b1941626.html?src=rss) |
| ADR directing | *Nerima Daikon Brothers*, *ef: A Tale of Memories* and *Melodies*, *Another*, *From the New World*, *Xenosaga: The Animation*, and co-director on *The Wallflower*[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [7](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/) |
| Successor as Frieza | Daman Mills became known as the voice of Frieza in *Dragon Ball Super* after Ayres's passing[8](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/dragon-ball-voice-actor-blasts-amazon-after-anime-fans-report-ai-voice-dubs) |
## Life and early career
Ayres was born in 1965 in [Richmond, Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/richmond-virginia).[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) He began working professionally in theater, television, and film at the age of 6, and his acting career started with a commercial for Lollipop soft drinks.[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [9](https://gizmodo.com/rip-chris-ayers-voice-of-dragon-balls-frieza-1847899393) His stage work was seen regionally, nationally, and on Broadway, and he also worked as a professional fight director.[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [7](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/) He was based in Houston, Texas.[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) His younger brother, Greg Ayres, is also an anime voice actor.[10](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/christopher-ayres.html)
## Voice acting career
**Frieza.** Ayres became the English voice of the *Dragon Ball* franchise's villain Frieza in 2010, with Funimation's dub of *Dragon Ball Z Kai*.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) • [6](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dragon-ball-chris-ayres-death-cause-b1941626.html?src=rss) He reprised the role in *Dragon Ball Super*, in the 2018 film *Dragon Ball Super: Broly*, and in video games including *Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2* and *Dragon Ball Legends*, continuing in the role until 2019.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) • [5](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/obituary-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died-at-age-56) According to his IMDb biography, he chose a British accent for Frieza, allegedly inspired by British actor Martin Billany's interpretation of the character in the *Dragon Ball Z Abridged* parody series.[11](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1591151/bio/) After his death, Daman Mills became known as the voice of Frieza in *Dragon Ball Super*.[8](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/dragon-ball-voice-actor-blasts-amazon-after-anime-fans-report-ai-voice-dubs)
**Other roles.** Beyond Frieza, his credits included Kei Kurono in *Gantz*, Prince Soma in *Black Butler*, Shingen Takeda in the *Sengoku Basara* series, Suitengu in *Speed Grapher*, Corset in *Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt*, Von Kampher in *[Trinity Blood](https://www.edgepedia.org/trinity-blood)*, Hayashimizu in *Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu*, Johnny in *One Piece*, and Everlue in *Fairy Tail*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chris-ayres) • [3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [6](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dragon-ball-chris-ayres-death-cause-b1941626.html?src=rss) • [7](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/) In video games he voiced Wagram in [Square Enix](https://www.edgepedia.org/square-enix)'s *The Last Remnant*, Frieza in several *Dragon Ball* games, and characters in *Smite* and *The Gunstringer*.[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [5](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/obituary-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died-at-age-56)
## ADR directing and writing
As an ADR director, the supervisor of an English dub's voice recording, Ayres directed *Nerima Daikon Brothers*, *Xenosaga: The Animation*, *Magikano*, *Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch*, *ef: A Tale of Memories* and *ef: A Tale of Melodies*, *Night Raid 1931*, *Another*, and *From the New World*, and served as co-director with Matt Greenfield on *The Wallflower*.[3](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres) • [7](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/) He also worked as a scriptwriter for English dubs, primarily with Funimation.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/)
## Convention work and later years
Ayres was a frequent guest at anime conventions, where he ran his workshop "Mock Combat for Cosplay", applying his fight-direction background to staged combat demonstrations for attendees.[7](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/) In 2017 he was hospitalized and diagnosed with end-stage COPD, and friends and family set up a fundraising campaign to help pay for a double lung transplant.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) He continued working after the diagnosis, reprising Frieza in *Dragon Ball Super* up to 2019 and in the *Broly* film.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/)
He died on October 18, 2021, in Houston, surrounded by family, and his death was announced the next day by his girlfriend, the voice actor Krystal LaPorte.[1](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/) • [5](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/obituary-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died-at-age-56) • [12](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2021/10/20/Chris-Ayres-Dragon-Ball-dead/4291634742508/) TheWrap reported the cause as a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[4](https://www.thewrap.com/christopher-ayres-voice-actor-best-known-as-frieza-from-dragon-ball-z-kei-dies-at-56/)
## References
1. [Frieza English Voice Actor Chris Ayres Has Died, Siliconera](https://www.siliconera.com/frieza-english-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died/)
2. [Chris Ayres, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/chris-ayres)
3. [Christopher Ayres, AnimeCons.com](https://animecons.com/guests/bio/1342/christopher-ayres)
4. [Christopher Ayres, Voice Actor Best Known as Frieza From 'Dragon Ball Z Kai,' Dies at 56, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/christopher-ayres-voice-actor-best-known-as-frieza-from-dragon-ball-z-kei-dies-at-56/)
5. [Obituary: Voice actor Chris Ayres has died at age 56, Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/audio/obituary-voice-actor-chris-ayres-has-died-at-age-56)
6. [Chris Ayres death: Dragon Ball voice actor dies, aged 56, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/dragon-ball-chris-ayres-death-cause-b1941626.html?src=rss)
7. [Christopher Ayres, San Japan](https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/christopher-ayres/)
8. [Dragon Ball Voice Actor Blasts Amazon After Anime Fans Call Out AI Voice Dubs, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/dragon-ball-voice-actor-blasts-amazon-after-anime-fans-report-ai-voice-dubs)
9. [RIP Chris Ayers, Voice of Dragon Ball's Frieza, Gizmodo](https://gizmodo.com/rip-chris-ayers-voice-of-dragon-balls-frieza-1847899393)
10. [Christopher Ayres, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/christopher-ayres.html)
11. [Chris Ayres Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1591151/bio/)
12. [Chris Ayres, 'Dragon Ball' voice actor, dead at 56, UPI](https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2021/10/20/Chris-Ayres-Dragon-Ball-dead/4291634742508/)
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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