American actor Peter Renaday, the iconic voice actor best known for portraying Master Splinter in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, has passed away at the age of 89. Renaday voiced the wise and stoic mutant rat, who served as both adoptive father and martial arts instructor to the turtles, from 1987 to 1996.
His death was confirmed by his former co-star Townsend Coleman, who voiced Michelangelo in the show. Police discovered Renaday’s body in his Burbank, California, home during a welfare check on Sunday.
Renaday’s niece, Mindy Zachary, shared that the voice actor’s home had been extremely hot due to a recent heatwave and a malfunctioning air conditioner. While the official cause of death has not been confirmed, the family believes no further investigation is necessary.
Coleman, reflecting on his friend’s passing, expressed his devastation, calling Renaday their “dear sensei” – a term the turtles often used for Master Splinter. Coleman noted that he had recently visited Renaday, who was still as lively and engaging as ever.
Coleman further described Renaday as a genuine, down-to-earth person who had left a lasting impact on everyone he worked with. Despite being 89, Renaday had remained vibrant, silly, and intelligent.
Coleman’s tribute emphasized the deep connection they had, both as colleagues and friends, describing the loss as “hard” and expressing how dearly Renaday would be missed.
In addition to his role as Master Splinter, Peter Renaday had a long and diverse career. He voiced Abraham Lincoln in The Hall of Presidents, a beloved attraction at Walt Disney World.
Renaday also had smaller roles in animated series such as Batman in 1992 and The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries from 1995 to 1999. His contributions to these works further showcased his versatility and talent as a voice actor.
