Brazilian actor Ettore Zuim, who gave life to dozens of animated characters, has passed away at the age of sixty-six.
The official cause of death has not [yet] been made public. Zuim had been living with an advanced case of Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease since he was diagnosed with it in 2023, a condition that narrows or blocks the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs. Errore Zuim was born in 1960. He died September 4, 2026, making him 66 at time of death.
He was probably most recognizable as Yakko Warner in Animaniacs, but he provided the voice for an amazing litany of famous characters: Jon Arbuckle in Garfield, Batman in Arkham Asylim the Dark Knight trilogy, and Injustice, David Kewena in Lilo and Stitch. He was Firelord Sozin in Avatar: the Last Airbender. In Shrek 2 (2004) and Shrek the Third (2007), he provided the voice of the simpering but polished Prince Charming.
Ettore Luiz França Zuim was a Brazilian actor, singer, radio announcer, and dubbing director, but most people simply knew him as a voice actor. Over more than four decades of work, he gave his voice to some of the most recognizable characters ever put on screen. He is the reason Hercules sounds brave and warm in Portuguese, the reason Christian Bale’s Batman sounds so steady and commanding, and the reason Prince Charming in Shrek gets his charm across in Brazilian homes. He mattered because dubbing is not just translation. It is acting with only your voice, and Zuim was one of the best at it. He was arguably as important to Brazilian and Portuguese animation as Daws Butler (1916-1988) was to American animation.
Just Some of His Credits
- Bruce Wayne / Batman — The Dark Knight Trilogy / Batman: Arkham / Injustice
- Hercules — Hercules
- Dracule Mihawk — One Piece
- Mugen — Samurai Champloo
- Prince Charming — Shrek 2 / Shrek the Third
- Nigel Uno / Numbuh 1 — Codename: Kids Next Door
- Jon Arbuckle — Garfield
- Yakko Warner — Animaniacs
- Heiter — Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Eric the Cavalier — Dungeons & Dragons
- Fire Lord Sozin — Avatar: The Last Airbender
- Noah — Total Drama
- Hotstreak — Static Shock
- Shen — League of Legends
- David Kawena — Lilo & Stitch
For more than four decades, he brought joy to thousands of fans. Obrigado e tchau, Senhor Zuim. Our deepest condolences to his friends and family.
Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows. Her nonfiction book THEY ENDURED will be published by B Cubed Press in 2025 or 2026.
