Doc Harris, the legendary narrator of Dragon Ball Z, has passed away at the age of 76. The Canadian voice actor, known for his iconic role in the English-language version of the popular anime series, died at Vancouver General Hospital on 5th October. Harris, born Gilbert Achinleck, began his career in Canadian radio before becoming the beloved narrator of Dragon Ball Z, voicing over 200 episodes between 1996 and 2003.
Starting his career in radio in the 1970s, Harris worked at various stations under different names before settling as Doc Harris at Vancouver’s CKLG. He continued to make significant contributions to the radio industry, primarily in Vancouver. Fans of Dragon Ball Z have been sharing tributes to Harris, recalling his memorable closing line at the end of each episode: “Find out next time on Dragon Ball Z!”
One fan expressed, “No Goku, no Vegeta, Buu finding Kami tower and Doc Harris delivering the most chilling ‘find out next time’ of my childhood, RIP legend!” Another fan highlighted, “Doc Harris was part of what made Dragon Ball so magical. His voice made an entire generation of anime fans hyped for every single episode. A legend.” Actor Ian James Corlett, who voiced Goku in Dragon Ball Z, described Harris as “one of a kind” in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, praising his influence on his early career.
In addition to Dragon Ball Z, Harris contributed his voice to other animated series like My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Barbie And The Rockers: Out Of This World, and Monster Rancher, leaving a lasting impact on the animation industry. The death of Doc Harris marks a significant loss for the entertainment world, following the passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama earlier this year at the age of 68.