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Team Fortress 2 Voice Actor Rick May Dies From COVID-19

It’s unfortunate news for the game community at large, as Rick May, the voice of Soldier in Team Fortress 2, has passed on after succumbing to COVID-19 at the age of 79.

The veteran, who also lent his voice to Peppy Hare and Genghis Khan in Star Fox 64 and Age of Empires II respectively, was known to be rehabilitating from a stroke attack in a nursing home, where he contracted the virus. He was subsequently transferred to Seattle’s Sweden hospital for treatment, but died before he could make a full recovery.

News of his passing broke when Rekindle School, an arts school where May had been teaching, dropped an official announcement. Plenty of tributes have since made their way to Twitter, including a heartwarming, dedicated server gathering of players paying respects to the late voice actor:

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It’s an extremely apt way to commemorate Soldier’s legacy in the game, whose character turned out to be surprisingly well-developed. Apart from expansive lore that explored his dynamics with boss character Merasmus, the gruff-talking operative also enjoyed fanart submisions as part of his “Propaganda Contest”.

Rest in peace, good Sir. As Soldier would put it, “You were good son, real good; maybe even the best.”