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.
Filmography[]
| Year | Character | Title | Dub Voice | Dub Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-1975 | Shiro Sanada | Space Battleship Yamato | ¿? | United States |
| 1977 | Space Battleship Yamato | Jerry Harland | United States | |
| 1978-1979 | Space Battleship Yamato II | ¿? | United States | |
| 1978 | Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato | Jeff Winkless | United States | |
| 1980-1981 | Space Battleship Yamato III | ¿? | United States | |
| 1980-1981 | Lieutenant Ketchup (ep. 16) |
Astro Boy | Dave Miller | United States |
| Dr. Milky Way (ep. 41) | Greg Zerkle | |||
| 1981 | Bob | Call of the Wild: Howl, Buck | ¿? | United States |
| Manuel | Bryan Cranston | United States | ||
| 1981 | Flack | The Enchanted Journey | Jim Backus | United States |
| 1982 | Muriguson | Arcadia of My Youth | Richard Nieskens | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1982-1983 | Sancho | The Mysterious Cities of Gold | Terrence Labrosse | Canada |
| 1982 | Grant Hanson | Thunderbirds 2086 | Earl Hammond | United States |
| 1983 | Eizo Yoshida | Barefoot Gen | Michael McConnohie | United States |
| 1983 | Pablo | Golgo 13: The Professional | Kerrigan Mahan | United States |
| 1983 | Father | Rain Boy | Mike Worman | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1984 | LaVerne Thorndyke | Lensman | Steve Kramer | United States |
| Dave Mallow (redub) |
United States | |||
| 1985 | Wireless Operator | Night on the Galactic Railroad | David Moo | United States |
| 1985 | Sanpei | The Dagger of Kamui | Greg Starr | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1985-1986 | Hazzard Pascha | Ninja Warrior Tobikage | ¿? | United States |
| 1986-1989 | Ninja Murasaki | Dragon Ball | Duncan Brannan | United States |
| Zane Sampson | Canada | |||
| King Piccolo | Christopher Sabat | United States | ||
| Mike Shepherd | Canada | |||
| Kami | Christopher Sabat | United States | ||
| Mike Shepherd | Canada | |||
| Plague (ep. 79) | Mike McFarland | United States | ||
| Adam Hunter | Canada | |||
| Young Master Shen (ep. 129) | Chuck Huber | United States | ||
| Jonathan Love | Canada | |||
| 1986 | Fox | Fist of the North Star: The Movie | Tom Wyner | United States |
| 1986-1990 | Mad Saulus | Violence Jack | John Bull | United Kingdom |
| 1987-1989 | Dr. Tarsan | Dangaioh | David Collins | United Kingdom |
| 1987-1990 | Jinmen | Devilman | David Collins | United Kingdom |
| 1987-1989 | The Devil (ep. 31) | Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics | Milton James | United States |
| Demon (ep. 40) | ||||
| 1987 | Billy Bones | Treasure Island: The Movie | John Snyder | United States |
| 1987 | Mr. Shadow | Wicked City | Jeff Winkless | United States |
| Ray Lonnen | United Kingdom | |||
| 1989-1996 | Kami | Dragon Ball Z | Dale Wilson | Canada |
| Ward Perry (eps. 25-37) | ||||
| Chris Forbis (ep. 76; original version) |
United States | |||
| Christopher Sabat | ||||
| 1989 | Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone | Ward Perry | Canada | |
| Ed Marcus | France | |||
| Christopher Sabat | United States | |||
| 1989-1992 | Kinnii (ep. 48) | Ranma ½ | Paul Dobson | Canada |
| Gambling King (ep. 85) |
David Kaye | |||
| 1989 | Deathsaurus | Transformers: Victory | Rik Thomas | Hong Kong |
| 1990-1991 | Dave Kurokawa (ep. 1) | Cyber City Oedo 808 | Marc Smith | United Kingdom |
| 1990-1991 | Captain Rumpot (ep. 12) | Moomin | Jeff Harding | United States |
| 1990-1991 | Wagnard | Record of Lodoss War | Bruce Winant | United States |
| 1991-1992 | Chou (ep. 1) | 3x3 Eyes | Michael McConnohie | United States |
| Yuji Okumoto | United States | |||
| 1991 | Bloody Charlie | Vampire Wars | Eric Flynn | United Kingdom |
| 1992-1998 | Dojin Issei | Giant Robo: The Animation | Kevin Seymour | United States |
| Mike Pollock (redub) | United States | |||
| 1992-1993 | Kiba | Green Legend Ran | Gerard Plunkett | Canada |
| 1992-1993 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Muyo! | Jay Hopper | United States |
| Nobuyuki Masaki | ||||
| 1993 | Lt. Toudou | Art of Fighting | James Carter Cathcart | United States |
| 1993 | Dakuan | Ninja Scroll | Stephen Apostolina | United States |
| 1993-1996 | Gambling King (ep. 2) | Ranma ½ (OVAs) | David Kaye | Canada |
| Shinnosuke's Grandfather | French Tickner | |||
| 1993 | 3rd Ache | Roujin Z | Nigel Anthony | United Kingdom |
| 1993 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Muyo! The Night Before the Carnival | Jay Hopper | United States |
| 1993 | Garuga / Yasha | Yu Yu Hakusho: The Golden Seal | Kevin Seymour | United States |
| Christopher Ayres | United States | |||
| 1993-2002 | Vanilla Ice | JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | Andrew Chaikin | United States |
| 1994 | Mitsuhide Akechi | Ghost Sweeper Mikami | Dan Stevens | United States |
| 1994 | Hattori Hanzō | Samurai Shodown: The Motion Picture | Rob Mungle | United States |
| 1994 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Muyo! II | Jay Hopper | United States |
| Nobuyuki Masaki | ||||
| 1994-1997 | Daimaru Nakajima | You're Under Arrest | Marc Matney | United States |
| 1995-2010 | Tomozo Sakura (eps. 38-768) | Chibi Maruko-chan | Simon Broad | Hong Kong |
| 1995 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Universe | Jay Hopper | United States |
| Nobuyuki Masaki | ||||
| 1996 | Captain Yamazaki | Birdy the Mighty | Doug Markley | United States |
| 1996 | Dr. Wily | Mega Man 8 | Douglas Kendall | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1996 | Nobuyuki Masaki | Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi in Love | Jay Hopper | United States |
| Katsuhito Masaki | ||||
| 1997-1998 | Gerard Paxton | Battle Athletes | Kevin Seymour | United States |
| 1997 | Jii | Detatoko Princess | Doug Stone | United States |
| 1997-1998 | Jushin Sekiguchi | Ninja Resurrection | David R. Jarrott | United States |
| 1997 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Muyo! | Bob Papenbrook | United States |
| Nobuyuki Masaki | ||||
| 1997 | Katsuhito Masaki | Tenchi Muyo! The Daughter of Darkness | United States | |
| Nobuyuki Masaki | ||||
| 1997 | Dr.Wily | Mega Man X4 | John O'Connor | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1998-1999 | Dohan | Cowboy Bebop | Simon Prescott | United States |
| 1998 | Colonel Roy Campbell | Metal Gear Solid | Paul Eiding | United States |
| 1998 | Yukinojo Miura | Nazca | Jack Barlow | United States |
| 1998 | Swanzo | Outlaw Star | Doug Stone | United States |
| Professor Nguyen Khan | Milton James | |||
| 1999-2003 | Mr. Wise (ep. 9) | The Big O | Doug Stone | United States |
| 1999 | Attalos | Reign: The Conqueror | Dwight Schultz | United States |
| 1999-2010 | Dracule Mihawk (eps. 23-460) |
One Piece | Chuck Powers | Singapore |
| Christopher Collet | United States | |||
| John Gremillion | United States | |||
| Mayor Woop Slap (ep. 45) | Joseph Murray | Singapore | ||
| ¿? | United States | |||
| Barry Yandell | United States | |||
| 1999 | Nobuyuki Masaki | Tenchi Forever! | Bob Papenbrook | United States |
| Katsuhito Masaki | ||||
| 2000 | Gen Fu | Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore | Roger Jackson | United States |
| 2000 | Attalos | Alexander: The Movie | Dwight Schultz | United States |
| 2000-2004 | Kaijinbo (eps. 44-45) | InuYasha | Robert O. Smith | Canada |
| 2000 | Lanacuras | Shinzo | Tom Wyner | United States |
| 2001 | Dr. Ponkotsu | Metropolis | Doug Stone | United States |
| 2001-2002 | Yōmei Asakura | Shaman King | Jim Napolitano | United States |
| 2002 | Kami | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai | Christopher Sabat | United States |
| 2002-2007 | Tazuna | Naruto | Kirk Thornton | United States |
| 2002 | Katsuhito Masaki (ep. 17) | Tenchi Muyo! GXP | Bob Papenbrook | United States |
| 2003 | Daiki Niwa | D.N.Angel | John Swasey | United States |
| 2003 | Dr. Wolfgang Pierce | Zoids: Fuzors | Brian Dobson | Canada |
| 2004-2008 | Dr. Allbert Zweinstein | Yu-Gi-Oh! GX | Sean Schemmel | United States |
| 2005 | Colonel Roy Campbell | Ape Escape 3 | Michael McColl | United States |
| 2005 | Azuki Rousai | Basilisk | R. Bruce Elliott | United States |
| 2005-2006 | Axel Thurston | Eureka Seven | Steve Kramer | United Stataes |
| 2005-2010 | Gengai Hiraga | Gintama | ¿? | United States |
| 2005-2006 | Ichi | IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix | William Frederick Knight | United States |
| 2005 | Master Mew | Musashi: Samurai Legend | Barry Gjerde | Tokyo, Japan |
| 2005 | Dracule Mihawk | One Piece: Grand Battle | Christopher Collet | United States |
| 2005 | Lieutenant Banks | Pokémon the Movie: Lucario & the Mystery of Mew | Oliver Wyman | United States |
| 2006-2008 | Bookman | D.Gray-man | R. Bruce Elliott | United States |
| 2006-2010 | Count Mott | The Familiar of Zero | ¿? | United States |
| 2006 | Dr. Wily | Mega Man Powered Up | Dean Galloway | Canada |
| 2007-2008 | Toshio Koumura | Clannad | Todd Waite | United States |
| 2007 | King Piccolo | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | Christopher Sabat | United States |
| 2007 | Lopez (ep. 2) | El Cazador de la Bruja | R. Bruce Elliott | United States |
| 2007 | Dracule Mihawk | One Piece: Unlimited Adventure | John Gremillion | United States |
| 2008 | Tsuyukami (ep. 2) | Natsume's Book of Friends | Doug Jackson | United States |
| 2009 | Ninja Murasaki | Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo | Duncan Brannan | United States |
| 2009-2010 | Kami (eps. 4-50) | Dragon Ball Z Kai | Christopher Sabat | United States |
| 2009 | School Principal | Eureka Seven: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Young Lovers | Steve Kramer | United States |
| 2009 | Old Man Mole | Redline | Steve Kramer | United States |