Voice Actor Keiji Fujiwara Dies at 55

by Vindstot
Apr 16, 2020 2:37 AM | 161 Comments

Prolific voice actor Keiji Fujiwara, best known as Hunter x Hunter's Leorio Paladiknight and Fullmetal Alchemist's Maes Hughes, died on Sunday due to cancer. He was 55 years old.

According to a post on his talent management company Air Agency's official website, Fujiwara had been fighting cancer for some time. The wake ceremony and funeral were held by his relatives only.

Born in Tokyo in 1964, Fujiwara spent most of his childhood in the Iwate Prefecture. He graduated from Senshu Daigaku Kitakami High School and went back to Tokyo to attend Bungakuza Theater Research Institute. He performed in many theatre troupes, notably Kiyama Office, during the 1980s.

Fujiwara debuted as a voice actor with RPG Densetsu Hepoi at talent agency Ken Production in the early 90s and first appeared as a regular in Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). He landed his breakthrough role, Shinnosuke's father Hiroshi Nohara in Crayon Shin-chan, in 1992. Fujiwara left Ken Production in 2006 and founded Air Agency. He also began lecturing at Japan Newart College in 2008.

In August 2016, he took a break from his work to receive medical treatment for an unspecified illness, but resumed voice acting the following June while taking his health into consideration. During his hiatus, Toshiyuki Morikawa took over his role as Hiroshi Nohara in Crayon Shin-chan.

Source: Oricon News

Seiyuu Life Event

20 of 161 Comments Recent Comments

I am super late but rest in peace for this super awesome VA .

Jul 3, 2023 1:43 PM by Yubisoft

rest in peace, I will never forget you.

Mar 18, 2021 10:42 AM by removed-user

Never will be forgotten.rip

Jun 28, 2020 12:31 PM by Fatephile

I've seen this news weeks ago but I completely forgot to check here.

Still, rest in peace. I became a fan of his voice because his voice can totally vary, from being a comedian, sarcastic, serious, etc while his main tone is about the same. It's like you happen to eat a food that has tons of different flavors. Now I will truly miss his voice and I might feel extremely sad if I happen to watch some anime that he has a role on.

Apr 30, 2020 1:59 AM by Tennouji

Only saw the news just now, this is devastating. One of the most recognizable voices in the entire industry will be silent forever :(

Apr 27, 2020 4:52 AM by grandy_UiD

Man, what a legend, so many notable roles.

Rest in peace.

Apr 25, 2020 9:34 PM by malvarez1

R.I.P. Keiji Fujiwara may your legacy inspire future generations of young people who want to become voice actors for anime just like him.

Apr 24, 2020 10:21 PM by LaytonPuzzle27

RIP, you were a great VA.

Apr 24, 2020 8:02 AM by SpeedRoidGenm

Sad news, RIP Looks like it’s beginning to rain..

Apr 23, 2020 1:46 AM by khonglapduoc12

Sad news... anyone who dies being an artists of this caliber will be always missed.

So much potential, too, considering he was 55.

Apr 22, 2020 8:33 PM by elliumeffect

Didn't know he died while I was playing Utawarerumono. Love the game, RIP Haku.

Apr 22, 2020 6:16 PM by Fsd20

This officially makes 2020 one of the worst years. I absolutely can't believe he died. The fact that his voice cannot be heard in future breaks my heart. RIP. Hope his family are ok.

Apr 22, 2020 3:16 AM by TheNamelessGuy

RIP, you were a great VA, thanks for all the role you played.

Apr 21, 2020 2:23 PM by Shiney

"lets go home, it's raining"
RIP, you were a great VA.

Apr 21, 2020 8:16 AM by 2life

Looks like it’s beginning to rain..

Apr 21, 2020 7:27 AM by xShiroyasha_

FUCK!
He had performed really great in HxH 2011 and FMAB, what a loss to the industry, those 2 were great characters.
RIP my man...

He recently also did the dad's VA in Dr.Stone, and he even was a MC on Hajime no Ippo, such a unique "raspy" voice he had.

Apr 19, 2020 9:49 AM by Playcool

I am going to miss his voice.
Especially as Hiroshi, Shin Chan's father.
There goes another father figure.

Apr 19, 2020 9:37 AM by shintai88

That's a lot of great characters for one person to play. Rest in peace.

Apr 19, 2020 6:33 AM by JayBlue

R.I.P. Keiji, but at least everyone will remember him, plus 2020 is a tough year to get through.

Apr 19, 2020 12:14 AM by Kurt_Irving

WOW ! This year is something else...

Apr 18, 2020 9:36 PM by Zrhy

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