HE WAS A DEMON ON WHEELS: R.I.P. PETER FERNANDEZ (1927-2010), THE VOICE OF SPEED RACER

Peter Fernadez, one of the masters of voice dubbing for imported Japanese movies — including several Toho giant monster flicks — and TV shows during the 1960's and beyond, has passed away from lung cancer. Not only did Fernandez perform the voice of Speed racer, the role for which he is best known, he also wrote the famed English language lyrics for that show and provided voice direction and voice acting for characters in shows that are indelible in the youths of myself and many of you out there in the Internet ether who are reading this, works such as (but by no means limited to):

• STAR BLAZERS
• MARINE BOY
• ALAKAZAM THE GREAT
• MOTHRA
• ASTRO BOY
• GIGANTOR
• GODZILLA VS. THE THING (aka (GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA)
• ULTRAMAN
• GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER
• RETURN OF THE STREET FIGHTER
• SISTER STREET FIGHTER

And the list only goes on (with the IMDB missing several items that spring immediately to mind).

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Fernandez at the NY Comicon two years ago and he was one of the most warm and genuine of my childhood influences that I've encountered. Rest well. Mr. Fernandez.