Overview
Kirby Robert Morrow (August 28, 1973 - November 18, 2020[1][2][3][4]) was a Canadian voice actor. He was the voice actor for Cole, Lou, Bizarro Cole, Mr. Pale, Gravis, as well as other various minor characters that appear in Ninjago.
His unexpected passing was announced by his brother, Casey Morrow, via Facebook on November 19, 2020.[3] After two days, he said they "do not have any official news on what happened and won't for about a week or so," but he promised to inform all as soon as they can.[5] In the LEGO Group's statement on X, it was confirmed that he had finished his lines for the 2021 episodes, which would be dedicated to his memory.[6] He died eight days later than his father, Tom Morrow.[7] Many other people, who had previously worked with him, also honored him via X[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and Instagram.[31][32][33] Sam Vincent also wrote a song dedicated to him.[34]
On November 30, 2020, it was revealed that Kirby Morrow passed away due to a "long history of substance abuse." He also struggled with mental health.[4]
In early December 2020, Casey Morrow set up a scholarship fund to honor Kirby's legacy by providing opportunities for aspiring actors who otherwise may not have access to a performing arts education.[35]
He was cremated and his ashes were scattered into the ocean near Stanley Park.[36]
Credits
Credits[]
Trivia
Trivia[]
- His other voice acting roles included Van Fanel (The Vision of Escaflowne), Tommy Tukyuk (Yvon of the Yukon), Miroku (Inuyasha), Shirako Takamoto (Hot Wheels: Acceleracers), Trowa Barton (Mobile Suit Gundam Wing), Rad White (Transformers: Armada), Hotshot (Transformers: Cybertron), Goku (Dragon Ball Z, Ocean Dub Buu Saga), Teru Mikami (Death Note), and most notably Cyclops/Scott Summers (X-Men: Evolution), Michelangelo (Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation), Anakin Skywalker and General Grievous (LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales), Jay (Class of the Titans), Slab Rockowski (Nexo Knights), and Jesus (At Jesus' Side).
- He, along with Alessandro Juliani, Mark Hildreth, Kathleen Barr, Sam Vincent, and Kelly Sheridan voiced in My Scene.
- He studied theater at Calgary's Mount Royal University.
- Kirby Morrow worked with Paul Dobson, Vincent Tong and Kelly Metzger before Ninjago, with all four voicing characters in Death Note.
- When asked what he would prefer as Cole's last name, given the lack of surname for Cole, he suggested the name "Cole Steel."[37]
- He disapproved of Cole's last name being "Bucket."[37]
- Kirby Morrow voiced three Elemental Masters in the series, these being Cole, Mr. Pale, and Gravis (Episode 37).
- He had wanted to become a lawyer ever since he was 13.[37]
- He related to Kai and Jay the most.[37]
- Kirby Morrow originally auditioned for the role of Jay (known as Ren at the time) before receiving the role of Cole.[38]
- Currently, Kirby's brother Casey manages his social media accounts and his girlfriend Carly manages his website.[39] As of April 22, 2025, the website is no longer accessible.
- The only episode in the WILFilm ApS seasons not to feature him was "The Last Resort," as Cole was trapped in the Djinn Blade at the time.
- According to his brother, Casey, out of all the characters Kirby voiced, Cole and Goku were probably his favorites, with Cole being the one he related the most with.[40]
- According to his brother, Casey, Kirby sang all the time,[41] which was also a character trait of Cole when he sang throughout Sons of Garmadon.
- He along with Sam Vincent, Doron Bell Jr., Kelly Sheridan, Kathleen Barr, Tabitha St. Germain, Garry Chalk, Michael Daingerfield, and Nicole Oliver voiced characters in Class of the Titans.
- Interestingly, Morrow's character was named Jay.
Gallery
Gallery[]
![The LEGO Group's official reaction to the passing of Kirby Morrow[6]](https://ninjago.fandom.com/wiki/File:Lego_about_Kirby.jpg "Lego about Kirby.jpg (372 KB)")
![Drawing by Tommy Andreasen[8]](https://ninjago.fandom.com/wiki/File:EnOGpQ8XEAE-1Id.jpg "EnOGpQ8XEAE-1Id.jpg (2.88 MB)")
![Maybe I'm Departed from "Day of the Departed" by Michael Kramer[21]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/ninjago/images/8/8e/Michael_Kramer_-_Ninjago_Soundtrack_Maybe_I%27m_Departed_%28From_Day_of_the_Departed_Special%29/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/185?cb=20191001032423 "Michael Kramer - Ninjago Soundtrack Maybe I'm Departed (From Day of the Departed Special) (8 KB)")
![With Kelly Sheridan[18]](https://ninjago.fandom.com/wiki/File:Kelly_kirby.jpg "Kelly kirby.jpg (29 KB)")
![With Peter Hausner[26]](https://ninjago.fandom.com/wiki/File:EnQWYj_XEAAQBz9.jpg "EnQWYj XEAAQBz9.jpg (49 KB)")
![With Vincent Tong[32]](https://ninjago.fandom.com/wiki/File:Vincent_kirby.jpg "Vincent kirby.jpg (47 KB)")
References
References[]
- ↑ https://www.gateworld.net/news/2020/11/actor-kirby-morrow-stargate-daedalus-bridge-officer-dies-at-47/
- ↑ https://comicbook.com/anime/news/kirby-morrow-voice-actor-dragon-ball-inuyasha-transformers-death/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://nypost.com/2020/11/20/kirby-morrow-dragon-ball-z-and-ninjago-voice-actor-dead-at-47/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://globalnews.ca/news/7514906/kirby-morrow-canadian-actor-obituary/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/caseypmorrow/posts/10158142562160892
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://x.com/LEGO_Group/status/1331590990596083713
- ↑ https://heavy.com/entertainment/hallmark/kirby-morrow-cause-of-death-father/
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://x.com/TommyAndreasen/status/1329554571748913153
- ↑ https://x.com/BrentMillervox/status/1329555691938455552
- ↑ https://x.com/adrianpetriw/status/1329556482946342912
- ↑ https://x.com/MadyxW/status/1329557305927503872
- ↑ https://x.com/TommyAndreasen/status/1329562173820055559
- ↑ https://x.com/DevenOClock/status/1329569025454694404
- ↑ https://x.com/BrianDrummondVO/status/1329571086057369601
- ↑ https://x.com/kelly_metzger/status/1329573880973856774
- ↑ https://x.com/brothershageman/status/1329575954373459969
- ↑ https://x.com/thefold/status/1329579768652689413
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 https://x.com/KSheridanVoice/status/1329583814859923456
- ↑ https://x.com/bragischutjr/status/1329592398935109632
- ↑ https://x.com/RhonaR/status/1329602831192473601
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 https://x.com/KramerComposer/status/1329621901719662595
- ↑ https://x.com/simonlucas80/status/1329676427046817793
- ↑ https://x.com/VincentTong007/status/1331677267685097472
- ↑ https://x.com/david_raynolds/status/1329688022619590661
- ↑ https://x.com/SevenWheelSound/status/1329680955729068032
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 http://web.archive.org/web/20201120090629/https://x.com/pjhausner/status/1329712407313330177
- ↑ https://x.com/TommyAndreasen/status/1329749927824683009
- ↑ https://x.com/M_Adamthwaite/status/1329799106353537026
- ↑ https://x.com/thedeanredman/status/1330020085189079040
- ↑ https://x.com/WILFILM/status/1330175211921137669
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CH0guQkJfCP/
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 https://www.instagram.com/p/CH0sOZXpXBy/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CHyn3dzgm70/
- ↑ https://x.com/TommyAndreasen/status/1340712925321977862
- ↑ https://www.gofundme.com/f/kirby-morrow-memorial-scholarship-fund
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CSXDJFbl44H/
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6C44_tmYwg
- ↑ https://x.com/TommyAndreasen/status/1329900254267891722
- ↑ http://kirbymorrow.com
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKNXGAjnDow/ (46:00)
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKNXGAjnDow/ (47:03)