Actor and Narrator Leo Morimoto Dies Suddenly at 83
His career included Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise and years narrating Thomas & Friends in Japanese.
Leo Morimoto, whose birth name was Haruyuki Morimoto, died suddenly on September 4 at 83. His agency said the cause was unknown.
Actor and narrator Leo Morimoto died suddenly on September 4 at 83. Fuji News Network and Oricon News reported the news Friday, citing his agency, which said the cause was unknown.
Morimoto’s anime work included:
- Starring as Shitotsugh Lhadatt in the film Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise.
- Narrating Bartender and Dragon Goes House-Hunting.
- Voicing Captain Erskine in Agatha Christie no Meitantei Poirot to Marple.
He narrated numerous commercials and documentaries, as well as the Japanese version of Thomas & Friends for many years. He also voiced Zhuge Liang in the 1982 puppet show Records of the Three Kingdoms.
In recent years, audiences knew him for appearances on the quiz variety program Quiz Presen Variety Q-sama!!. He also narrated the 2007 game Eternal Sonata.
His live-action credits included the 1974 NHK series Yellow-Colored Tears (Kiiroi Namida). He played supporting roles in many television series, including Long Vacation and Shomuni.
Born Haruyuki Morimoto in Nagoya city, Aichi prefecture, on February 13, 1943, he graduated from the Nihon University College of Art. He then worked as a radio station DJ.
Sources: Fuji News Network via ANN
