We are unfortunately reaching a point where these news stories are all too common, but their impact never diminishes. Tetsuo Mizutori has passed away at the age of 71. Dragon Ball fans may remember him as Zald, one of Garlic Jr.’s new henchmen in the anime-only story arc immediately prior to Mecha Freeza’s and Trunks’ arrival, though he was more widely known for roles in series such as Kinnikuman.

The Garlic Jr. story arc was skipped for the on-going Dragon Ball Kai TV series due to it being an original story and one of Kai‘s main points being that it more strictly adheres to author Akira Toriyama’s original comic. Mizutori had played no other roles in the series or movies.

One of Garlic Jr.’s other new henchman for this part of the series, Vinegar, was played by the late Daisuke Gōri, who had played a wealth of other characters in the series (Gyū-Maō, Enma-Daiō, King Cold, Mr. Satan, etc.).

Coincidentally, the other two henchmen of Garlic Jr. from this story arc were played by actors who have stepped up as replacement roles in Dragon Ball Kai. Tard was played by Masaharu Satō, who has filled in for the late Kōhei Miyauchi as the voice of Kame-Sen’nin, while Gashew was played by Hikaru Midorikawa, who has filled in for the late Hirotaka Suzuoki as Tenshinhan (in addition to his other role as #16, as well as Paikuhan in recent video games).