If you’re a Millennial or Gen Zer, then the viral “HEYYEYAAEYAAAEYAEYAA” YouTube video should no doubt come to mind when you hear the name “He-Man.” Of course, the song is not from the cartoon itself but originally “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. That said, He-Man is still quite an iconic character that even those not raised in the 80s will instantly recognize. Sadly, the OG VA John Erwin, who voiced the superhero and protagonist of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, has passed away at age 88.
Surprisingly, John Erwin actually passed away back in December of 2024, but news of his death has only been reported now. After decades of performing dozens of voice roles, the voice actor died of natural causes. His best-known roles are He-Man from the Masters of the Universe cartoon series, Morris the Cat, an advertising mascot for a cat food brand, and Reggie Mantle, a cartoon/comic-book character in The Archie Show.
Naturally, fans of He-Man and Erwin’s other works were deeply saddened by his passing, but none were likely as devasted as his loved ones and Melendy Britt, the voice of She-Ra, He-Man’s twin sibling. As one would expect, Britt and Erwin worked very closely together over the years they worked on the Masters of the Universe cartoon series. On top of that, the two were “friends in real life,” according to the voice actress herself. In a memoir called “A Letter to My Brother,” She-Ra’s VA wrote:
“For 40 years, we had been a team. We were He-Man and She-Ra. To have ‘my brother’ pass on is a tremendous sorrow even though I know life is not finite. The tears I have are because John was such a special quiet man and we shared a very special relationship in those roles as twin sister and brother.”
Britt went on her memoir to describe how closely the two had been as VAs of the twin siblings. He was her pillar to lean on during difficult days and a primary source of her laughter, strength, hope, and love. Even with his absence, the voice actress claims he still has the ‘Power,’ referring to the very iconic phrase He-Man uses in the cartoon, “I have the Power!” She ended her “letter” with a tearful yet cheerful message, “After all, we were twins… He-Man and She-Ra forever.”
John Erwin Was a Childhood Hero to Many
The post with Britt’s tribute is flooded with hundreds of commenters remarking how Britt and Erwin were “an integral part of their childhood,” and they were the voices of the viewers’ “childhood heroes.” It’s not hard to see how much of a positive impact He-Man and his VA had on the older generation and how much of an inspiration his work was and still is to many to this day. A loyal and sad fan states,
“It’s the end of an era, if not innocence. John Erwin’s voice raised a generation! He entertained, educated and inspired. Thank you for making me believe I had the power to be the best version of myself! Good journey, Mr. Erwin. You will be missed.”
“I hope he knew how much we appreciated him and his work,” remarked another. “Iconic voice in an iconic show that was part of my childhood,” lamented a third. That all being said, whether you know He-Man as the blond “Heyyeyaa”-yodeling man in tights in a rainbow or as the superhero of your childhood, Erwin’s death indeed marks the end of an era for many.
