Jefferson Utanes, the voice behind Mr. Krabs in the Filipino dub of SpongeBob SquarePants, sadly passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. He was 46 years old.
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| Jefferson Utanes. Image: Instagram/@jeffutanes |
Utanes’ death was confirmed by his sister-in-law Elizabeth on Tuesday, December 16, as she asked the voice actor’s followers to pray for his soul. The cause of his death was not disclosed.
“In behalf of my sister Catherine and her children Jhulianne [and] Justin, we humbly ask for prayers for the soul of my brother-in-law Jefferson Seril Utanes. May the Lord grant him eternal rest and perpetual light. Amen,” her Facebook post read.
A day later, his wife Catherine announced the details of his wake, which took place at the St. Peter Chapels in San Roque, Antipolo, on Wednesday, December 17.
“Join us as we honor Jeff’s beautiful life and enduring legacy. Our hearts overflow with gratitude for the love and joy he so generously shared. Though we miss him beyond words, his memory continues to shine as a guiding light within us forever,” the obituary read.
His death was first reported by anime platform ANIMEPH, which led to a stream of tributes and heartwarming messages from fans and those who grew up listening to his work in Filipino-dubbed anime through the years.
One of the notable tributes came from Ani-One Philippines which honored his “passion, voice, and dedication” to the anime community.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the entire anime community. Your spirit will live on through the voices you inspired and the legacy you leave behind. Rest in peace, Jefferson Utanes. You will always be remembered,” Ani-One’s tribute continued.
Utanes, lovingly known as “Goku ng Pinas” for voicing Son Goku in the Filipino dub of Dragon Ball, has also been the voice of several characters in Filipino-dubbed versions of anime aired on TV. His work earned him a big following in the anime and dubbing community, notable for being a huge part in the lives of Filipino anime fans.
Aside from Son Goku, some of his notable voice works were as James in Pokemon, Doraemon in Doraemon, Ken Matsuhiro in Yakitate!! Japan, Kogori Mori in Detective Conan and Usopp in One Piece. He also served as the Filipino voice for iconic characters such as Shrek, Ben 10, Genie (Aladdin), Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog), Mickey Mouse and more.
R.I.P. Jefferson Seril Utanes, June 9, 1979 - December 16, 2025
Sources: Inquirer.net, @ToonHive.
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