Kiyoshi Kobayashi (小林 清志, Kobayashi Kiyoshi, January 11, 1933 — July 30, 2022) was a veteran Japanese voice actor whose famous roles include Aguille Delaz of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, the Wolf in Droopy cartoons, Bem in Humanoid Monster Bem, and most famously — Daisuke Jigen of Lupin III. He originated the Jigen role in the 1969 pilot and appeared in every Lupin production but one until his retirement in 2021. At the time, he was the only original Lupin voice actor remaining in the cast, playing the role for 52 years. His final performance as Daisuke Jigen was the first episode of Lupin III: Part 6 (which was a celebratory send-off for him); Akio Ōtsuka took over the role from there on out.
Sadly, he died on July 30, 2022 due to pneumonia, at the age of 89. Nonetheless, he's left behind a legacy that will likely live on for a long time to come. May he rest in peace.
Notable roles:
- Amuri in Star Ocean (Ukatan's male voice, Deus Allen)
- Batman: The Animated Series (Jonah Hex)
- Battle of Okinawa (Narrator)
- Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (Bara Darts)
- Death Note (Watari/Quillsh Wammy)
- Detective Conan Film 06: The Phantom of Baker Street (James Moriarty)
- Droopy (The Wolf)
- GaoGaiGar (The Narrator, Ryōsuke Takanohashi)
- Gekisou Sentai Carranger (VRV Master)
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Adrian Rubinsky)
- Lord of Lords: Ryu Knight (Hell Dragon Emperor)
- Lupin III franchise (Daisuke Jigen)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (Aiguille Delaz)
- Samurai Jack (Thief - a character who was a Composite Character Shout-Out to Jigen & Lupin)
- Samurai Shodown (Yagyu Jubei)
- Seijuu Sentai Gingaman (Degius)
- Shazzan (Shazzan)
- Space Adventure Cobra (Crystal Bowie)
- Kyojin no Hoshi (Star of the Giants) (Armstrong Ozuma)
- Snow Dogs (Japanese dub) (James "Thunder Jack" Johnson)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987) (Master Splinter)
- Totally Spies! (Jerry)
- X-Men: The Animated Series (Japanese dub) (Forge)
- Yokai Ningen Bem (1968 version) (Bem)
