Voice actor Mike McFarland has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, following a series of brain tumor surgeries. This news was shared through an update on a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign that was initially created to support his recovery.
On Monday, an update to the GoFundMe campaign revealed that McFarland had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer originating from a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord. This diagnosis follows a successful brain surgery he underwent in January to remove a tumor. He had a second surgery in April to try and locate an unknown infection. Following the new diagnosis, McFarland was again hospitalized and is now moving to a skilled nursing facility to continue his treatment. The crowdfunding campaign, which was started by fellow voice actors J. Michael Tatum and Brandon McInnis, has been updated with a new, higher goal to help cover his ongoing treatment costs.
Throughout his career, Mike McFarland has been a prominent figure in the anime industry, both as a voice actor and an ADR director. He is widely recognized for his work on many popular series, including his roles as Master Roshi and Yajirobe in the Dragon Ball series, Buggy the Clown in One Piece, and Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist. He has also served as a line producer, ADR director, and ADR script adapter for numerous series from companies like ADV and Funimation. Fans across various anime communities have shown an outpouring of support, recognizing his significant contributions to the industry.