{kodoani.com} Voice actor Christopher Ayres, known for voicing Frieza in the Dragon Ball series, has died aged 56.
Voice actor Christopher Ayres, known for his role as Frieza in the Dragon Ball franchise, passed away yesterday, October 18. He was 56 years old.
Ayres’ girlfriend, voice actor Krystal LaPorte, confirmed his passing in a Twitter post today, sharing a message, as well as several photos of the two.
pic.twitter.com/SvhMEeMWVk
— Krystal LaPorte (@WowSuchKrystal) October 19, 2021
On October 18 at 8:40 p.m., my world went dark. Christopher Owen Ayres died peacefully, hugged by his mother, brother and girlfriend and wrapped around his Atticus pillow. He was able to pet the real thing for hours in advance. His two hands were held. His face was kissed. We watched Jim Croce, the Charlie Chaplin musical, and had one hand on my waist as I held the other while Unchained Melody played, the song we knew would be the first dance of our wedding. His mother and brother told stories of his childhood when he left.
I have never lived in a world without Chris. I’m scared about it. How much human kindness, compassion, tenderness, courage, chivalry and integrity are concentrated in one man. Everything feels so much colder.
Chris loves you all. How much he loves other people fills most of our conversations. Thank you friends who really love him. For those of you who still keep in touch, have checked on him, reminded him that he is still the same, more than his job, you are the source of his fight. . You harbored dreams of a future that kept him going longer than any normal person could.
Chris, I miss your face. I remember your voice. I miss your hugs and I can’t even begin to understand that I’ll never walk in the doorway again and hear “Hey, pretty girl.” I remember you are my girl. I miss you. I’ve always been the other half of Krystal and Chris. I don’t want to be Krystal, but I’ll do my best to see what you see in me, and try to be what the world sees in you.
I hope that wherever you are, the first thing you do is take a long, deep breath with your perfect lungs and jump back up. I hope you’ve seen so many people and animals that I know you’ve missed so much. I hope it has all the horror movies, lots of shrimp and black candy, and a huge Doctor Who store.
I know a lot of people reading this will ask “is there anything I can do?” Be more like Chris. Please, if you learn anything from him, put it in this world. It needs him. Always fill it with love and laughter.
“When he died,
Take him away and cut him into little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven beautiful
That the whole world will love the night
And do not worship the bright sun. “
Ayres was born on May 16, 1965 in Richmond, Virginia. He began his voice acting career in 2003, starting with a supporting role in Kino’s ADV dub Journey. He has gone on to voice countless animated series throughout the years, including Saint Seiya, Mezzo DSA, Gantz, Speed Grapher, Fairy Tail, Black Butler, and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, among many other.
That said, Ayres is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Dragon Ball’s iconic villain Frieza, whom he voices in the animated series Dragon Ball Z Kai and Dragon Ball Super, as well as in the series Anime Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ and Dragon Ball Super: Broly. He also voiced Frieza in the Dragon Ball series from 2010 to 2018. His other film credits include Gintama: The Movie and Sengoku Basara: The Last Party, while his other video game work includes including The Last Remnant.
Ayres has battled health problems for years, undergoing a double lung transplant after being diagnosed with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2017. He is survived by his girlfriend, Krystal LaPorte , as well as his mother and brother.
