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​​​In the late afternoon hours of April 13th, voice actor John Patrick Lowrie passed along word that his friend and colleague, Rick May, has passed away. The two voiced characters from Valve's Team Fortress 2. Lowrie voiced the Sniper while May was the voice of the Soldier.
While Covid-19 may have been what ultimately took May's life, the actor did suffer from some unfortunate health issues in the preceding months. He reportedly suffered a heart attack in February 2020. May was also reportedly battling cancer.
John Patrick Lowrie passed along a heartfelt Facebook post from May's long-time friend Larry Albert. Lowrie, Albert, and May did a radio series together, The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. John Patrick Lowrie was the voice of Holmes, Larry Albert was Dr. Watson, and Rick May was the voice of Inspector Lestrade. May voiced Inspector Lestrade ever since the third episode premiered back in 1998.
Rest in peace, Rick. Thank you for all of the entertainment you have shared with the world over all these years.
I met him over thirty years ago and while we weren’t the socializing type of pals we always enjoyed running into each other at a gig or audition. Every recording session with him was always laugh-filled. Yet when the lights went down or the engineer said, “rolling†he was the consummate professional. He worked hard to get it right and we could always depend on him to deliver. In talking with his wife Diana I found out that he loved the sessions, the camaraderie, the give and take during the rehearsals and actual recording. Whenever one of his shows aired he would listen, as do I to mine. However, Rick would listen to the ones he’d had no part in and write to say, “Wasn’t so and so great!†or “Man, that was a fantastic scrip!†I would always send him a copy of the finished product.
Rick May was a force of nature, a pain in the ass sometimes but never to the point where I would not use him again and again. We were working friends, colleagues and buddies. Hopefully there will be those who will speak of his years in the theater, as a teacher, a director and voice talent, of his one-man show as Teddy Roosevelt. I knew the man who asked me if I could get him a copy of an old Republic Studios serial cliffhanger “The Phantom Rider†if he got me an autograph from his friend Ty Hardin from the old “Bronco†TV series.
I knew the man who along with Frank Buxton and David Selvig stood and applauded my daughter Andee when I introduced her to the audience at the Kirkland Performance Center for what would be her first appearance as a professional actor.
I knew the man who was always encouraging when I had my bout with cancer.
I knew the man whose passing leaves a huge hole in my heart and I believe so many others.
I wish you strength Diana.
Rick I wish for you to know eternal peace.
Goodbye buddy, I’m gonna miss the hell out of you.
Rick May was a force of nature, a pain in the ass sometimes but never to the point where I would not use him again and again. We were working friends, colleagues and buddies. Hopefully there will be those who will speak of his years in the theater, as a teacher, a director and voice talent, of his one-man show as Teddy Roosevelt. I knew the man who asked me if I could get him a copy of an old Republic Studios serial cliffhanger “The Phantom Rider†if he got me an autograph from his friend Ty Hardin from the old “Bronco†TV series.
I knew the man who along with Frank Buxton and David Selvig stood and applauded my daughter Andee when I introduced her to the audience at the Kirkland Performance Center for what would be her first appearance as a professional actor.
I knew the man who was always encouraging when I had my bout with cancer.
I knew the man whose passing leaves a huge hole in my heart and I believe so many others.
I wish you strength Diana.
Rick I wish for you to know eternal peace.
Goodbye buddy, I’m gonna miss the hell out of you.
