Where Are The Classic Thundercats Cast Members Now?

Question

Real Thundercats 80s cartoon voice actors seem to have vanished. Any fan looking up Lion-O or Cheetara's voice, where are they working now?

JakeBaird · Answer

While a couple original voice actors like Larry Kenney and Lynne Lipton are still active at conventions, most have stepped back from the public eye. For a different kind of 'classic' fantasy ensemble with modern twists, I recently read a novel called 'The Last Dragon’s Enslaved Lycan Mate' where the main characters are literally ancient beings navigating a completely changed modern world, which gives a fun 'where are they now?' feel but for mythic creatures. It's a free read on several web novel sites if that hybrid lore appeals to you.

Wyatt · Answer

I've followed the original 'ThunderCats' cast for years, partly because those Saturday mornings shaped my childhood soundtrack. Larry Kenney (Lion-O) is the most visible — he’s been involved with voice projects, audiobook readings, and convention appearances. He has that classic energy that keeps the character alive for long-time fans. Lynne Lipton, who voiced Cheetara and other characters, stepped back from constant spotlighting but has done odd jobs in stage and voice-over work and is occasionally acknowledged by fans at events.

Meanwhile, veteran voice actors from the show diversified: some like Neil Ross and other supporting cast members enjoyed long careers in animation, video games, and commercials. A few originals passed away—Earl Hammond (Mumm-Ra) in the early 2000s and Earle Hyman (Panthro) in 2017—so you’ll mostly catch their work in retrospectives. If you want current sightings, conventions and podcast interviews are the best places to hear recent stories and recordings — I’ve learned more about their careers from panels than from trivia books.

Heidi · Answer

I still get a little giddy when I see old clips of 'ThunderCats' and then look up where the cast wound up. The headline is simple: some stayed in voice work and conventions (Larry Kenney’s name pops up a lot), a few moved into stage work or teaching, and a couple of the main players, like Earl Hammond and Earle Hyman, have passed away. A lot of the supporting cast went on to steady work in animation, video games, or commercials; they show up in credits if you start checking other 80s and 90s cartoons. If you’re chasing recent interviews, fan panels and podcasts tend to be goldmines — I’ve learned tiny, adorable anecdotes there that make the show feel even more cherished.

Wyatt · Answer

Sometimes I sketch the cast list in my notebook and think about the arcs their careers took after 'ThunderCats'. A handful built long-term careers in voice acting and related media, finding steady gigs in commercials, cartoons, and video games; that’s true for several supporting actors who had well-established studio relationships. Larry Kenney (Lion-O) stayed fairly active and embraced conventions, which helped bridge generations of fans. Others pursued theater or teaching, trading the spotlight for quieter, sustained crafts. The two most commonly noted passings are Earl Hammond, whose theatrical villainy as Mumm-Ra has been memorialized in interviews, and Earle Hyman, who left us in 2017 after a distinguished body of work. For fans, the coolest part is seeing them at panels, hearing behind-the-scenes stories, and realizing those voices grew into whole lives beyond the show — it’s inspiring.

Noah · Answer

I still replay little clips sometimes, and it’s comforting: many original 'ThunderCats' voices moved naturally into continued voice work or public appearances, while a few went the quiet-retirement route. Larry Kenney remains the go-to name fans mention, showing up at cons and doing voice projects. A couple of the heavy hitters — Earl Hammond and Earle Hyman — have passed, which always makes me feel nostalgic hearing their performances. The rest of the ensemble tended to either keep acting, teach, or take occasional roles in commercials and video games, so their careers feel like a patchwork quilt of steady, varied work. It’s neat how the show’s legacy keeps them connected to fans.

Yolanda · Answer

I still get a thrill picturing that opening theme — and then I think about the people behind the voices. The original 'ThunderCats' roster split into a few clear paths: some kept working in voice and stage, some retired into quieter lives, and a few sadly passed on. Larry Kenney, who was Lion-O, is the name most folks still spot at cons and on nostalgia panels; he kept doing voice work and radio-style gigs for decades and pops up at fan events, happy to chat about the show.

On the other side, Mumm-Ra’s deep, theatrical delivery was Earl Hammond’s work; he passed away in 2002, but his performance still defines the villain for many fans. Panthro’s original voice actor, Earle Hyman, also left us in 2017, after a long and storied career beyond the cartoon. Other performers from that era moved into steady voice work, commercials, teaching, or just enjoying retirement away from the spotlight. I like that the original cast’s voices still live in clips, conventions, and the warm corners of fan memory — it feels like visiting old friends.

OwenOrtiz · Answer

Podcasts and online interviews have been a game-changer for this kind of info. Many original cast members have been guests on nostalgia podcasts or YouTube interview shows. Those are gold mines for a ‘where are they now’ that’s in their own words. They share anecdotes, what they’ve been up to recently, their thoughts on fandom. It’s the most direct access we’ve ever had.

You can literally hear Lynne Lipton or Larry Kenney talking about their lives now while reminiscing about then. It bridges the gap completely. So the most up-to-date answer isn’t a written summary; it’s an audio file. Search their names on your podcast app. Those conversations are the definitive, living ‘where are they now.’ They’re more personal and revealing than any Wikipedia page or forum post could ever be.

LukeCook · Answer

It’s interesting to think about their influence on later voice actors. Many of today’s stars grew up watching 'ThunderCats' and were inspired by those performances. So in a way, the original cast is ‘now’ in the work of people like Tara Strong or Yuri Lowenthal. Their stylistic choices, their heroic delivery, even their cheesier line readings informed a generation of talent.

Their legacy is pedagogical. They are part of the foundational curriculum of Western animation voice acting. When a modern actor shouts a battle cry, there’s a bit of Lion-O in there. When a villain snarls with theatrical menace, there’s a shade of Mumm-Ra. Their ‘where are they now’ extends into the very sound of current cartoons and games. They are present in the DNA of the industry, even if their names aren’t on the current credits. That’s a profound kind of permanence.

DamianRay · Answer

Let’s not forget the 2011 reboot! That’s a whole different cast for a more recent ‘now’. Will Friedle was an awesome choice for Lion-O, bringing that youthful, earnest energy. Emmy winner Emmanuelle Chriqui voiced Cheetara, and Matthew Mercer played Tygra. A lot of these actors are very active currently in video games and modern anime dubs. Mercer is everywhere in gaming. That version of the cast is arguably more visible in today’s entertainment landscape than most of the original voice actors.

If the question is about career trajectories, the 2011 cast members are deep in their professional prime. It’s a cool contrast—the original cast represents a specific era of voice acting, while the reboot cast shows where those roles would be cast today with current industry stars. Checking their Twitter or Instagram gives you a direct line to what they’re working on now, which is often high-profile animation or game projects. It’s two different snapshots of ‘now’ depending on which series you hold dear.

MilaFord · Answer

Okay, real talk: the toy line was arguably as big as the show. The voice actors were the soul of the toys for kids. So part of their ‘now’ is intrinsically linked to the collectibles market. Their signatures on vintage action figures or poster art are highly sought after. Their convention appearances are, in a practical sense, powered by the enduring value of that memorabilia.

It’s a unique aspect of 80s cartoon casts. Their current activities are often supported by the tangible, physical legacy of the merchandise. When you see Larry Kenney at a table signing, he’s engaging with that physical history. That’s a distinctive ‘where are they now’—they are active participants in the economy of nostalgia that surrounds their old work. It’s not just about looking back; it’s a present-day interaction with the fandom’s cherished objects.

RexHill · Answer

The fan community’s role in sustaining the cast’s relevance can’t be overstated. By creating art, writing fanfiction, running websites, and organizing conventions, fans keep the demand for the original cast alive. Their ‘now’ is partly shaped by this sustained interest. If fans lost interest, convention invites would dry up, interview requests would stop.

So, in a symbiotic way, the fans are co-authors of the cast’s ‘now.’ We create the market for their appearances and signatures. Our continued passion gives their past work ongoing value and reason to be celebrated. It’s a feedback loop of love and nostalgia. When we ask ‘where are they now,’ we are also, indirectly, asking about the health of the fandom that supports their continued connection to the public. It’s a shared story.

ReeseBud · Answer

I miss the days when you just enjoyed a show and didn’t think about where the actors ended up. There was a mystery to it. Now, with the internet, we have to know everything immediately. Sometimes not knowing was part of the magic. The characters were just… the characters. Lion-O was Lion-O, not Larry Kenney. I kind of liked that separation.

Learning about their lives and passings can, weirdly, pull you out of the fiction. It grounds the fantasy in a sometimes-harsh reality. Maybe the ‘where are they now’ isn’t always a positive inquiry. Maybe it’s okay to let some things remain in their era, preserved in amber. Let the performances stand alone without the biography. That’s a valid perspective too. Not everyone needs to track down every con video.

LoganGray · Answer

I always wondered about the actual animators and writers more than the voice cast. The voices are front and center, but the people at Rankin/Bass and those Japanese animation studios were the real architects. Where are they now? That’s a deeper dive. Some of those artists went on to work on other iconic 80s toons, some moved into gaming, and others just faded from public records. The voice actors get the spotlight at cons, but the behind-the-scenes creators had fascinating career arcs too.

It’s a reminder that ‘where are they now’ for a show like this is a multi-layered question. You’ve got the American voice talent, the Japanese animation staff, the American writers and producers, and the composers. Their post-'ThunderCats' journeys would tell a complete story of the industry’s evolution. I’d love to see a documentary that tracks all those threads, not just the familiar faces we heard. That would be the ultimate update.

Where Are The Classic Thundercats Cast Members Now?

13 Answers

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