You’ve probably heard his voice while eating cereal on a Saturday morning or binging a 400-episode anime arc. Grant James wasn’t just another name in the credits. He was one of those rare "utility players" in the acting world. If a production needed gravitas, a raspy grandfatherly warmth, or a terrifyingly calm villain, they called him.
He passed away in November 2022 at 87 years old. It’s a huge loss for the Dallas-Fort Worth acting community, where he was basically a legend.
But here’s the thing—most people didn’t realize just how much he did. He wasn't just "the guy from One Piece." He was everywhere. From cult-classic live-action films to some of the biggest anime franchises on the planet, James left a fingerprint on everything he touched.
The Man Who Fed Sanji: Grant James in One Piece
If you ask any One Piece fan about Grant James, they’ll immediately mention Chef Zeff. It’s one of the most emotional roles in the early series. James voiced the English dub version of the "Red-Leg" pirate who literally gave up his own leg so a young Sanji wouldn’t starve.
He didn't play Zeff as a softie. Not at all. He played him with this gruff, "get back to work" exterior that made the eventual emotional payoff hit like a freight train. He voiced the character from the very beginning of the Funimation dub all the way through the 3D2Y special in 2019.
💡 You might also like: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
Interestingly, he also pulled double duty in the series. He voiced Pagaya, Conis’s overly apologetic and quirky father in the Skypiea arc. The range there is wild. Going from a hardened sea captain to a polite, "I'm so sorry!" father figure is basically the definition of a voice acting pro.
More Than Just Anime: The Live-Action Legend
A lot of people think he was strictly a voice actor. Honestly, that’s a mistake. Grant James had over 100 acting credits to his name.
Check this out:
- He was in Tombstone (1993). Yeah, the legendary Kurt Russell western.
- He had a part in The Fifth Element.
- He even appeared in Better Call Saul and Walker, Texas Ranger.
He wasn't always the lead, but he was a "scene-stealer." In the indie horror hit The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, he played Mr. Gordy. He brought this eerie, quiet presence to the screen that was way more effective than any CGI jump scare could ever be. He started acting professionally in the 80s, but he really didn't slow down until his late 70s.
📖 Related: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
The Funimation Era and Dragon Ball Z
Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Funimation was the center of the anime universe in Texas. James was a staple there.
In Dragon Ball Z, he wasn't the guy screaming and powering up for three episodes straight. Instead, he handled the character-driven roles. He voiced X.S. Cash, the flamboyant, money-obsessed host of the tournament in Bojack Unbound. He also played Zalador in Broly – Second Coming.
One of his most underrated roles, though? Number Zero in 009-1. It required a specific kind of cold, calculated authority that only an older, seasoned actor could really nail. He had this way of making exposition sound like a Shakespearean monologue.
A Family of Voices
Acting wasn't just a job for him; it was the family business. Grant James was married to Juli Erickson, another powerhouse in the voice acting world. Sadly, she also recently passed away in late 2025.
👉 See also: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
If you watched Fullmetal Alchemist, you know her—she was Pinako Rockbell (Winry’s grandmother). They were basically the grandparents of the Dallas anime scene. They even taught acting classes together. Imagine being a young actor and having the voices of Chef Zeff and Pinako Rockbell critiquing your monologue. That’s a lot of wisdom in one room.
Why His Legacy Actually Matters
In an era where everyone wants to be the "main character," Grant James showed the value of being a character actor. He was the foundation. Without actors like him, the worlds of One Piece or Fullmetal Alchemist would feel thin and hollow.
He proved that you could have a career spanning five decades by simply being reliable, talented, and versatile. Whether he was a doctor in Dragon Ball Z or a dying deputy in The Night Shift, he showed up and did the work.
How to Explore His Best Work Today
If you want to see what made his voice so special, don't just stick to the hits. Look for the nuance in his smaller roles.
- Watch the Baratie Arc in One Piece: Specifically, listen to the scenes where Zeff and Sanji say their goodbyes. It’s a masterclass in "tough love" vocal performance.
- Check out The Vast of Night: He has a smaller role in this 2019 sci-fi gem. It’s a great example of his late-career live-action work.
- Revisit Case Closed (Detective Conan): He popped up in several guest roles here. It shows his ability to adapt to the "monster of the week" format without breaking a sweat.
The next time you’re watching a classic dub and you hear a voice that sounds like a warm cup of coffee mixed with a bit of gravel, check the credits. Chances are, it’s Grant James. He wasn't just a voice; he was the soul of some of the best stories ever told.
To really appreciate the depth of his impact, you might want to look into the Funimation documentaries or behind-the-scenes features from the mid-2000s. You’ll often see him and Juli Erickson mentioned by younger VAs as the mentors who helped them find their own voices in the booth. If you’re a collector, his signature on a One Piece Baratie-themed item is basically a piece of anime history at this point.