Who was Francisco Reséndez? Meet the voice behind Scooby-Doo who died at 85

Francisco Reséndez, the Mexican voice actor and dubbing director best known to generations of Spanish-speaking viewers as one of the voices of Scooby-Doo, has died at the age of 85. Reséndez died on September 2, 2026, while news of his death was publicly confirmed a day later by people from the dubbing community. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

For many viewers across Latin America, Reséndez was more than a name in the credits. His voice became part of childhood memories, particularly through his work on several Scooby-Doo productions. He was also involved in some of the biggest Spanish-language dubbing projects in television and anime.

Who was Francisco Reséndez?

Francisco Reséndez Novoa, popularly known as “Don Paco”, was a Mexican actor and director who spent more than six decades working in the dubbing industry. His career stretched across animation, television, films and anime. Unlike performers who are widely recognised on screen, much of Reséndez’s work was heard rather than seen. His performances helped Spanish-speaking audiences experience characters originally created in other languages. He also worked behind the microphone as a dubbing director, making him an important figure in Mexico’s voice-acting industry.

Francisco Reséndez and Scooby-Doo

Reséndez is particularly remembered for providing the Latin American Spanish voice of Scooby-Doo in several productions. His credits included episodes of The Scooby-Doo Show and The Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show. He also voiced the famous mystery-solving Great Dane in animated films released during the 1980s, including Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers, Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School and Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf.

That work connected Reséndez with a character that had already become a global pop-culture favourite. For Spanish-speaking audiences, however, his interpretation gave Scooby-Doo a distinct voice of its own.

His work beyond Scooby-Doo

Reséndez's career was not limited to the Hanna-Barbera character. He also lent his voice to characters in Japanese anime, including Dot Pixis in Attack on Titan and Makarov Dreyar in Fairy Tail. His work covered a wide range of characters and productions, reflecting the breadth of Mexico's dubbing industry.

His career also included work as a dubbing director. He was associated with the Mexican dubbing studio Audiomaster 3000 and directed the Latin American Spanish dubbing of the early seasons of The Simpsons. Reports differ on the exact number of seasons attributed to his direction, but sources consistently identify his work on the show's early Spanish-language adaptation as an important part of his career.

Francisco Reséndez dies at 85

Francisco Reséndez died on September 2, 2026, according to reports from the dubbing community. His death was publicly reported on September 3. He was 85. The cause of death has not been announced by his family or confirmed by reliable reports.

Reséndez belonged to a generation of Mexican voice actors who helped establish dubbing as an important part of the entertainment industry. His career lasted more than 60 years and moved between acting and directing. From a talking cartoon dog to anime characters and television productions, his voice reached audiences who may never have known his face but instantly recognised his work.