She was best known for her role as Maetel in Galaxy Express 999.
Talent agency Haikyō has announced that veteran anime voice actress Masako Ikeda unfortunately died on 3 March, 2026 due to a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 87 at the time of her death. Her funeral was attended by close relatives only.
Masako Ikeda began her career in the 1960s
Masako Ikeda, born in 1939, began her career in voice acting in the 1960s. Her most famous role is as Maetel in the Galaxy Express 999 (1978) anime series. Her other voice acting roles include Eros in Princess Knight (1967), Nodoka Saotome in Ranma ½ (1992), Wakana Shinguji in Sakura Wars (2000), Leia in Monster (2004), and the Chimera Ant Queen in Hunter x Hunter (2011).
She was also a celebrated dubbing voice actress, and dubbed the voices of both Audrey Hepburn and Meryl Streep in many Hollywood films. Ikeda also voiced the Cloud of Darkness in Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008), the Cadetmaster in the Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011), and Hydaelyn in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (2013) video games.
Ikeda won the Achievement Award at the 2007 1st Seiyu Awards, as well as the Merit Award at the 2020 Tokyo Anime Awards. The anime industry deeply mourns the loss of a talent like hers.