Takeshi Aono

Takeshi Aono (青野 武 Aono Takeshi, June 19, 1936 – April 9, 2012) was a Japanese voice actor and actor from Asahikawa, Hokkaidō. He was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. He graduated from Hokkaidō Asahikawa Higashi High School.

Most remembered for his harsh authoritarian voice, some of Aono's most known notable roles include Piccolo Daimao and Kami-sama in the Dragon Ball franchise, Dracule Mihawk in One Piece, Shiro Sanada in Space Battleship Yamato, Rihaku in Fist of the North Star and Dakuan in Ninja Scroll. He is also known in video games as the voice of the diabolical Dr. Wily in the PlayStation-era Mega Man games, and Colonel Roy Campbell of the Metal Gear games.

In May 2010, Aono checked into a hospital for an aortic dissection and suffered a stroke shortly thereafter, thus putting an end to his career as a voice actor. On the afternoon of April 9, 2012, Aono suffered a bout of post-operative multiple cerebral infarctions and was found dead. Aono was 75 years old at the time of his death.

Bin Shimada would take over most of Aono's ongoing roles, including Kami in Dragon Ball Z Kai, while Hirohiko Kakegawa would take over the role of Mihawk in One Piece. Out of respect for Aono, Hideo Kojima retired the Roy Campbell character from the Metal Gear series.