The simple story of a boy racing a cool car never got old for me.
Today, ANN reported that Peter Fernandez died from lung cancer. He was 83. Besides voicing Speed Racer and Racer X (along with countless other minor characters), Fernandez also voiced an older Sprittle in Speed Racer: The Next Generation. Besides Speed Racer, he was a voice director and appeared on shows like Star Blazers, Lupin III: The Secret Of Mamo, Gandahar, Tokyo Decadence, and Astro Boy.
I got to speak with Peter back in 2008 over the phone. He was an amazingly nice guy. He even did voice impressions of characters like Cruncher Block. (You can read that interview HERE about Speed Racer, writing the famous theme song and other bits).
You reached the Finish Line, Speed!
Great Race!
Great Life!
Thank You, Peter!
Aw man, are you serious? Its a shame to learn that a great legend in the realm of voice acting has passed on. And he was such a nice guy too. I met him at AWA in 2008 (whatever year the Speed Racer movie came out) and he was really cool.
Best wishes to his family and those he left behind.