Eric Legrand, French Voice of Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, Passes Away at 66
Eric Legrand, the French voice actor for Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, has died at 66. Though initially unfamiliar with the role, his powerful performance left a lasting impact on French anime fans worldwide.
Eric Legrand, the French voice actor behind Vegeta in Dragon Ball Z, has died at the age of 66. The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed, and neither has the exact time or day it happened.
News of his passing was first shared by Patrick Borg, a longtime friend and fellow voice actor who played the French voice of Goku. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Borg reflected on their decades-long friendship and what it meant to share the journey of voicing the two most powerful Saiyans in the Dragon Ball universe.
Eric Legrand: The French Voice Behind Vegeta Says Early Goodbye
While Legrand’s work was mostly known within French-speaking audiences, fans from all over the world have started paying tribute. He brought a unique energy to the role, capturing Vegeta’s constant inner conflict—his arrogance, honor, and hidden vulnerability—with a voice that felt both raw and powerful.
Though the French dub didn’t always receive the same global recognition as the original Japanese or English versions, those who grew up with it will remember Legrand as the voice behind some of the show’s most iconic moments.
For our non-French-speaking readers, we’ve included a clip below that highlights Eric Legrand’s performance as Vegeta. Even if you don't speak the language, the energy speaks for itself.
Interestingly, Legrand once admitted that he initially had no idea what Dragon Ball Z was really about. Due to the way the dubbing process worked at the time, scenes were recorded out of order and without full context. He was often given isolated lines with little background. For a long time, he didn’t know who Vegeta truly was or how the story connected. But as the series grew more popular and fans began recognizing him for his work, Legrand started to understand the importance of the character he had been voicing for years.
Over time, he embraced the role fully, appreciating the deep connection fans had with the Dragon Ball universe. His portrayal of Vegeta became more than just a job.
Although his work was mainly confined to the French-language version, Eric Legrand’s contribution to Dragon Ball Z is undeniable. His voice helped define Vegeta for an entire generation of fans. His early passing is a loss not only to the French anime community but to the Dragon Ball family as a whole.
