TV legend John Erwin, the voice of 80’s pop culture icon He-man has died (Image: Filmation)
A renowned actor, best known for lending his voice to the iconic character He-Man in beloved cartoons, has passed away at the age of 88. John Erwin skillfully brought He-Man to life in the hit shows He-Man and The Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power, which aired from 1983 to 1986 and gained immense popularity in both the US and the UK, despite their modest budgets.
Due to financial constraints, Erwin showcased his vocal range by also portraying smaller characters, such as Beast Man. Sadly, his representatives confirmed that the talented performer, whose career spanned an impressive 45 years, died of natural causes.
His final credited role was in an episode of Family Guy, where he once again voiced He-Man. Alan Oppenheimer, who voiced Skeletor alongside Erwin on He-Man, fondly remembered working with him, saying: “Working with John Erwin was a ballad of irreverence, professionalism and surprise.”
“He was a series actor, writer, performer of commercials, musician, painter and an all-around lovely gentleman, an indelible addition to my life.”
Melendy Britt, the voice actor of He-Man’s twin sister She-Ra, added a heartfelt tribute: “For 40 years, John Erwin was not only my brother onscreen, he was my friend.”, reports
John was also known for lending his voice to Morris the Cat (Image: Youtube)
Erwin, who began his illustrious career as a voice actor in 1968 with the role of grumpy Reggie Mantle in The Archies, became a household name across the US when he lent his voice to Morris the Cat in numerous commercials.
The snarky orange tabby cat was the face of the 9Lives brand of cat food and was one of the nation’s favourite felines at the time. This led to his award-winning work on The Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power.
Fans today paid tribute to the series and Erwin’s creativity. The veteran actor passed away from natural causes in Camarillo, California on December 20, 2024, but his death was only confirmed by his agent on Friday.
He is survived by “his loving family of children and grandchildren,” according to the public relations firm.