The gentle, tea-loving wise mentor of Avatar: The Last Airbender won over millions of viewers, but the real-world history behind his iconic voice is a poignant tale of legacy, tragedy, and rare artistic continuity. Uncle Iroh was famously voiced by two distinct actors across the original animated series: the legendary Mako Iwamatsu during Seasons 1 and 2, and soundalike successor Greg Baldwin in Season 3. Because their vocal performances blend almost seamlessly, many casual fans don't realize a major transition happened behind the scenes.
Understanding the full history of the Uncle Iroh voice actor requires looking at Mako's pioneering career, the tragic circumstances of his passing, and how Greg Baldwin stepped into shoes that seemed impossible to fill.
The Legacy of Mako Iwamatsu
Before he breathed life into the Dragon of the West, Mako Iwamatsu was already a towering figure in American theater and film. Born in Kobe, Japan, in 1933, Mako immigrated to the United States and eventually co-founded the East West Players in Los Angeles, the first Asian American theater organization in the country. He earned a Tony Award nomination for his work in the Broadway musical Pacific Overtures and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the 1966 film The Sand Pebbles.
When Nickelodeon cast him as Iroh in 2005, Mako brought a rich, gravelly warmth mixed with genuine authority to the character. He didn't just play a wise old uncle; he infused Iroh with a lived-in depth that made lines about tea, loss, and redemption resonate with profound emotional weight. Additional analysis by The Hollywood Reporter delves into comparable views on this issue.
Mako also voiced Aku, the shape-shifting demon in Cartoon Network's Samurai Jack, establishing a distinct vocal signature characterized by booming resonance and playful menace.
The Tragic Mid-Series Transition
During the production of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, Mako fell ill with esophageal cancer. He managed to record his lines for several episodes, including the emotionally devastating "Tales of Ba Sing Se," which featured the famous song "Leaves from the Vine" dedicated to his deceased son, Lu Ten.
Mako passed away on July 21, 2006, at the age of 72. His death left the production team and the fandom in deep mourning.
The creators faced a difficult choice as they prepared for Book 3: Fire. Rather than recast the role with a radically different interpretation or write the beloved character out, casting directors searched for a soundalike who could honor Mako's distinct vocal cadence without missing a beat.
Enter Greg Baldwin, a seasoned theater and voice actor who had previously worked alongside Mako or studied his cadence closely. Baldwin successfully auditioned and took over the role for the final season of the original series, as well as subsequent appearances in The Legend of Korra and video games.
How Greg Baldwin Honored Mako
Stepping into a role left vacant by a beloved master is one of the toughest challenges in voice acting. Baldwin approached the task with immense reverence. In various interviews and social media reflections, Baldwin has noted that he didn't try to reinvent Iroh; instead, he studied Mako's precise rhythm, breathiness, and tonal warmth to maintain continuity for the audience.
The transition was so smooth that a large portion of the audience didn't even notice a new actor had taken over. For Season 3 episodes, Baldwin captured Iroh's booming battle cries, gentle chuckles, and emotional reconciliations with Zuko.
During recording sessions for the series finale, Mako's family reportedly visited the studio to listen to Baldwin record. Hearing Baldwin capture Mako's exact voice brought them to tears, serving as the ultimate validation that the character was in respectful hands.
Beyond Avatar, Baldwin also inherited Mako's role as Aku in Samurai Jack, voicing the villain in the show's 2017 revival season.
Beyond the Animation: Live-Action Adaptations
As the Avatar franchise expanded into live-action adaptations, different actors stepped into the physical mantle of the character.
In the 2010 live-action film adaptation directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Uncle Iroh was played by veteran actor Shaun Toub. Later, in Netflix's 2024 live-action series adaptation, actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee took on the role. Lee won widespread praise from the fandom for capturing Iroh's grandfatherly warmth, physical posture, and strategic wisdom, often engaging with fans online about what the character means to them.
Throughout these various iterations—from Mako's foundational performance to Baldwin's vocal mastery and Lee's live-action portrayal—the core essence of Iroh has remained intact.
Common Misconceptions About the Voice Change
- The switch happened between seasons, not mid-episode: A common myth is that the voice changed abruptly during an episode. In reality, the transition occurred strictly between Book 2 and Book 3. Mako's final recorded episodes aired toward the end of Season 2, while Baldwin debuted at the start of Season 3.
- Baldwin did not voice Iroh in the video games immediately: Early video game tie-ins released during the show's run required quick casting, and archival recordings or soundalikes were managed carefully depending on production timelines.
- Mako's influence extends past Iroh: Because Mako voiced multiple iconic animated villains and mentors, his distinct vocal style shaped an entire era of 2000s American animation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Greg Baldwin voice Uncle Iroh for the entire series?
No. Mako Iwamatsu voiced Uncle Iroh for Seasons 1 and 2 of the original animated series. Greg Baldwin took over the role starting in Season 3 after Mako's passing.
Why did Mako leave the show?
Mako did not leave voluntarily; he passed away from esophageal cancer on July 21, 2006, during the production break between the second and third seasons of the show.
How does Greg Baldwin sound so much like Mako?
Baldwin is a trained theater actor with a natural vocal range that allowed him to match Mako's pitch, cadence, and warmth. He approached the role as a tribute, meticulously studying Mako's phrasing to preserve the character's integrity.
Does Greg Baldwin voice Iroh in The Legend of Korra?
Yes. Greg Baldwin reprised his role as the spirit-world version of Uncle Iroh in Nickelodeon's sequel series The Legend of Korra.
