Rick May, the voice of the Soldier in Team Fortress 2, passes away after contracting COVID-19

It is with heavy hearts that we report on the death of Rick May, who has voiced several video game characters, including the Soldier from Team Fortress 2, and Peppy in Star Fox 64, with his iconic "Do a barrel roll" line. 

Rick May was recovering from a stroke he suffered in February, and later contracted COVID-19 at a nursing home. Mr May was moved to Seattle's Swedish hospital for treatment, where he passed away due to the disease.

This tragic news was reported by Rekindle School in Seattle, Washington, where Mr May was a teacher. Fans have taken to Twitter to express their feelings, and talk about how Rick May made them laugh with his video game voice lines.

Mr May's video game voice acting has made a lot of people laugh. He has credits in Team Fortress 2, Star Fox 64, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, and more. 

During his career, Rick May also directed or appeared in over 300 shows for the Renton Civic Theater, and the Civic Light Opera, including the likes of The Odd Couple, Fiddler on the Roof, and much more. 

In a eulogy on Facebook, John Patrick Lowrie, the voice actor for the Team Fortress 2 Sniper, wrote:

"I met him over thirty years ago and while we weren’t the socializing type of pals we always enjoyed running into each other at a gig or audition. Every recording session with him was always laugh-filled. Yet when the lights went down or the engineer said, 'rolling' he was the consummate professional. He worked hard to get it right and we could always depend on him to deliver. In talking with his wife Diana I found out that he loved the sessions, the camaraderie, the give and take during the rehearsals and actual recording. Whenever one of his shows aired he would listen, as do I to mine. However, Rick would listen to the ones he’d had no part in and write to say, 'Wasn’t so and so great!' or 'Man, that was a fantastic scrip!' I would always send him a copy of the finished product."

Mr May clearly brought a lot of joy to peoples' lives, including us gamers. 

Our condolences go out to his loved ones, especially his wife Diana. 

Rest in peace, Rick May.