Voice actor Shouzou Iizuka, best known for his roles as Keiichi Ikari in Mousou Dairinin (Paranoia Agent) and Nappa in Dragon Ball Z, died on February 15 at 9:14 a.m. from acute heart failure. He was 89. The funeral was held privately by his close relatives.

Born in Tokyo in May 1933, Iizuka moved to Iwaki City in Fukushima, where he lived until his high school graduation. While still a student at Nihon University's Fine Arts Department, he founded a theater company and staged plays throughout Japan. He began his voice acting career in 1965 and received his first major role as Ganger in Astroganger in 1972.

Iizuka's other notable roles include Genya Tachibana in Sennen Joyuu (Millenium Actress), Jinzouningen 8-gou and Mira-kun in the Dragon Ball series, Baraggan Louisenbairn in Bleach, Fudou and Heart in Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star), and Ryuu Jose in Kidou Senshi Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam). He also replaced Kenji Utsumi after his death as Genji Kamogawa in Hajime no Ippo: Rising.

Iizuka received the Merit Award as a voice actor at the 2022 Tokyo Anime Award Festival.

Source: Comic Natalie