The Tragic Reason Uncle Iroh's Voice Changed In Avatar: The Last Airbender
By Robert King
Despite being a member of the Fire Nation and a former general, "Avatar: The Last Airbender" character Uncle Iroh is a gentle soul. His love of tea is accompanied by his belief that peace and mutual understanding are essential for the world, which starkly contrasts the ideals of the warring nation from which he hails. When given even the slightest authority in the series, he utilizes the moment to declare a day of tea appreciation. Iroh is a beloved figure, so it came as a shock when Greg Baldwin took up the part after Japanese actor Mako established himself as the voice of the character in Seasons 1 and 2.
The real reason for Mako's departure from "The Last Airbender" is heartbreaking. The actor best known for his roles as Akiro the Wizard in the "Conan the Barbarian" series and as Aku in "Samurai Jack," succumbed to esophageal cancer on July 21, 2006, at the age of 72 (via The New York Times). Per his IMDb profile, Mako's last credited roles are in the live-action Lucy Liu movie "Rise: Blood Hunter" and voicing Splinter in "TMNT." Born Iwamatsu Makoto, one of Mako's first big breaks was playing the villain Low Sing, who faced off against Bruce Lee's Kato in "The Green Hornet."
As mentioned earlier, Baldwin took over the role of Uncle Iroh after Mako's passing, having long been his voice double. Mako left an indelible mark on pop culture, and his loss is still keenly felt today.
