Takeshi Aono was born on June 19, 1936 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. He was a very prolific anime voice actor, and he also provided voices for Japanese video games and Japanese dubs of English films and television shows.

Some of Aono's best-known anime roles include Shiro Sanada in the Space Battleship Yamato franchise, Kami-Sama and Piccolo Daimao in the Dragon Ball franchise, Mihawk Juraquille in One Piece, Rihaku in Fist of the North Star, and the grandfather in Chibi Maruko-chan.

Aono was quite a prolific voice actor, and had major roles in other anime series and films. Some of these roles include Azuki Rousai in Basilisk, Bookman in D.Gray-man, Daiki Niwa in D.N.Angel, Sanpei in Dagger of Kamui, Dr. Tarsan in Dangaioh, Osman in The Familiar of Zero, Nurarihyon in Gegege no Kitaro, Issei in Giant Robo, Hydra King in Kinnikuman: Gyakushu! Uchu Kakure Chojin, Dakuan in Ninja Scroll, Gwen Khan in Outlaw Star, Old Man Mole in Redline, Katsuhito Masaki in Tenchi Muyo!, Hokuben in Toki no Tabibito –Time Stranger-, and Sugoroku Mutou in Yu-Gi-Oh!

In addition to these roles, Aono also provided voices for such characters as Tazuna the bridge builder in Naruto, Ninja Murasaki and Ginkaku in Dragon Ball, Murigson in Arcadia of My Youth, Minimini in the third Astro Boy anime series, Eizou in Barefoot Gen, Mr. Wise in The Big O, Mentor Somen and Teacher Maguro in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, Gimlet in Brave King GaoaiGar, Sasai and Muneyuki Mino in Case Closed, Toshio Sakura in Clannad, Doohan in Cowboy Bebop, Jinmen in the Devilman OAV, Edmond and Koa in Galaxy Express 999, Donaldson in the Gatchaman OAV, Gengai in Gintama, Pablo in Golgo 13: The Professional, Kaijinbo in Inuyasha, Vanilla Ice in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OAV, Murai in the Legend of the Galactic Heroes OAV, Mesa in Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Ponkotz in Metropolis, the Gambling King and Kinni in Ranma 1/2, Bagnard in the Record of Lodoss War OAV, Youmei Asakura in Shaman King, Vega in Space Adventure Cobra, Stan in Trigun, and Daimaru Nakajima in You're Under Arrest.

Aono's video game credits include Phantom Kingdom, A.S.H. – Archaic Sealed Heat, four Metal Gear Solid games, a couple of Mega Man games, several Dead or Alive games, Tekken 5, a couple of Ninja Gaiden games, and Capcom vs SNK 2.

For film and television dubbing, he provided the Japanese voices for Argus Filch in three of the Harry Potter movies, Doc Brown in Back to the Future, Basil in The Great Mouse Detective, Galahad and other characters in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Harry in Home Alone, Jack Torrance in The Shining, King Harold in two of the Shrek films, Michael Palin in Monty Python's Flying Circus, Lt. Castillo in Miami Vice, Russell Casse in Independence Day, and The Joker/Jack Napier in Batman: The Animated Series.

Sadly, Takeshi Aono passed away on April 9, 2012 at the age of 76 due to multiple cerebral infarction after an aortic aneurysm.