American voice actor Chris Ayres passed away on Monday, October 18, his girlfriend Krystal LaPorte confirmed on Twitter Tuesday, He is best known for playing the villain Frieza in the classic Japanese anime Dragon Ball.
The cause of death for Ayres, 56, was not specified. However, the screenwriter was also diagnosed with advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in 2017 and often shares updates on his health on social networks, collected by Entertainment Weekly Magazine.
“I hope that wherever you are, the first thing you do is take a deep breath out of your perfect lungs and start dancing again,” Laporte wrote, referring to her partner’s health issues.
Christopher Ailes, who voiced Frieza in the Dragon Ball series, died on October 18 at the age of 56. During his nearly 20-year animation career, he has produced many iconic anime, including Initial D and the Dragon Ball series. Ailes has also served as an ADR director for the English dubs of various animations. In 2017, he was diagnosed with advanced cardiopulmonary disease and has been candid online about his struggles with the disease. Krystal LaPorte, voice actor and friend of Ayres, tweeted about Ayres’ death. “My world went dark at 8:40pm on October 18th. Christopher Owen Ayres passed away peacefully surrounded by his mother, brother and girlfriend,” LaPorte wrote, thanking his loyal fans , wrote: “Chris loves you all. How much he loves other people fills up most of our conversations. To those who truly love him, thank you. To those who have been in touch, looking for him and reminding him that he not only Just man for his job. You are the fuel for his fight. You cultivated a dream of a future that keeps him alive longer than normal. I wish you were there and the first thing you do is use your perfect Take a deep breath in your lungs and dance again.”
