Few can say they've ever portrayed a late-night talk show host or a superhero. George Lowe, however, managed to do both at the same time. His portrayal of Space Ghost in Space Ghost: Coast to Coast practically usurped the 1960s version of the character's place in pop culture. To many, especially those who watched Cartoon Network and Adult Swim throughout the 90s and 2000s, he is Space Ghost. That's not something you see everyday.
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that the great George Lowe has passed away. He was 67 years old, and had been ill for some time. He passed on Sunday, but the news was broken by several friends yesterday morning.
Lowe knew that he had a great voice even at a young age. During high school, he worked at a Florida radio station. In the late 80s, he got a gig doing voiceover work for Turner, with his voice being heard in promos for TBS and other Turner networks. In 1994, he was cast as Space Ghost in Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. The role was originally portrayed by Gary Owens, but Lowe gave the character a sense of weirdness and cynicism that was needed for this version. While Coast to Coast was full of talented people behind the scenes, Lowe really was the star of the whole show.
After Space Ghost, Lowe would appear in many Adult Swim series. He was heard in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, and Squidbillies, to name a few. If Adult Swim were to have ever had a "voice," it would have to be Lowe's. His most enduring character, though, was undoubtedly Tad Ghostal. He voiced the character beyond Coast to Coast, including appearances in The Brak Show and Perfect Hair Forever. Fittingly enough, his last performance was as Space Ghost in a 2024 episode of Jellystone!. Though I have mixed feelings on that show, it was undeniably great to hear him as the character one more time.
To say George Lowe will be missed is an understatement. As I said before, his voice is practically synonymous with the early years of both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. If you watched those channels during that period, you've heard his voice. He was a talented actor with a memorable voice, and from all accounts I've heard, was a true class-act. May he rest in peace, and I send the best of wishes to his family and friends.
To use Chuck Jones' derogatory phrase, there is a place for animated radio. The actual animation of "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast" and its kid-geared spinoff "Cartoon Planet" was minimal to the point of near nonexistence. What made those shows so delightful, as with the Jay Ward cartoons, was the wonderful voice work. Like the late C. Martin Croker before him, George Lowe will be missed. Hopefully Andy Merrill will stay with us a bit longer.
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