Beloved Doraemon voice actor Lam Po-chuen dies at 63
The magic has come to an end for adamant Doraemon fans who has only ever known the character to be voiced by Lam Po-chuen
Lam Po-chuen is most known for being the voice behind Doraemon.Voice actor Lam Po-chuen, most known for being the voice behind Doraemon for over 20 years, died this morning at the age of 63, TVB communications deputy director Tsang Sing-ming confirms.
Lam is said to have fainted in his home this morning, and was later confirmed dead.
Born in Macau, Lam moved to Hong Kong as a teenager, and joined TVB in 1971 at the age of 20. The round-faced voice actor began dubbing the Cantonese version of Doraemon – then known as Ding Dong – in the early 80s. After three decades of voicing Doaemon, a robotic cat from the then futuristic 21st century whose belly pouch leads to a parallel dimension from which he can grab magical goodies to rescue his human charge Nobita Nobi from his troubles and mishaps, Lam has become one of the most recognisable voices in Hong Kong.
“I won’t accept anyone else voicing Doraemon,” says Maghen Chan Wing-yu, a form one student at Po Leung Kuk Tang Yuk Tien College. “Now I can only watch old Doraemonre-runs ... I’ll miss him dearly.”
Lam is also known for his Cantonese dubbing of Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam, Heshen in the Chinese drama The Eloquent Ji Xiaolan, Wakabayashi Genzo in anime Captain Tsubasa as well as narrating TVB programme, Neighbourhood Treasures.
“I’m very upset over his sudden death,” says Victor Chan Chun-ho, 24. “I have always followed his performance in many other programmes, not only cartoons. He has the talent to bring any character to life.”
Stand By Me Doraemon, to be released on February 19 (first day of the Lunar New Year), will be the last Doraemon film with dubbed by Lam.