Peter Fernandez, of English-language TV’s Speed Racer, dies at 83

An era has passed in science-fiction sports land, as Peter Fernandez, he who voiced Speed Racer for Anglophone audiences, died Thursday night at age 83.

For the 1967-68 series, Fernandez dubbed the voice of Speed Racer himself as well as those of Racer X and some minor characters.

The English-language cast of Mahha Go Go Go also included Corinne Orr, Jack Curtis and Jack Grimes.

Fernandez first started doing voice acting for radio at the age of seven years old. In a 75-year career, Fernandez ran up credits in acting, writing and directing TV and film. His best known writing work is probably the English-language Speed Racer theme song – That’s right: “Go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer…” was his handiwork. He also did some voice work in the Speed Racer: The Next Generation series of 2009.

Other appearances of note might include voicing the title role in the dubbed Ultraman series of 1972; he also gets credits for voicing Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Mothra, and the animated TV series Thunderbirds 2086. Among his writing work was the English-language dialogue for The Gods Must Be Crazy V (really). In 1949, he starred in the Universal motion picture City Across the River; he’s the ringleader-type in the clip below.

Fernandez died of lung cancer brought on by smoking, quite expected – some of cancer risks are obvious (learn more about cancer causes at https://mesotheliomaexplained.com/mesothelioma-lawyers/).

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