One Piece season 2 will bring the pirate world alive once again with several important characters from the original manga and anime. One of the most anticipated newcomers is Dr. Kureha, the eccentric yet brilliant doctor who appears in the Drum Island storyline.
Popular actress Katey Sagal will be playing Dr. Kureha in One Piece live-action series. Many viewers will instantly recognize her from decades of television and voice acting work, from Married… with Chilren to Futurama. Her casting has made fans notice how the character looks and sounds familiar to Sagal herself, making it a match made in heaven.
Interestingly, the role was once strongly associated with another Hollywood star who publicly expressed interest in playing the character. Here’s why Dr. Kureha may seem so recognizable, and the story behind the casting.
ShowOne PieceNo. of Seasons2 (Season 3 in production)CreatorsMatt Owens, Joe TraczStarringIñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero, Taz SkylarRotten Tomatoes (As of March 11, 2026)83% | 95% (Season 1)IMDb (As of March 11, 2026)8.3/10 (Season 1)
What Has Katey Sagal Played Before Dr. Kureha in One Piece?
Katey Sagal and John Ritter in a scene from the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter | Credits: ABC
For many viewers, Dr. Kureha may feel familiar because of Katey Sagal has been a part of many shows and projects in her decades-long career.
The classic sitcom Married… with Children featured Sagal as Peggy, who had sarcastic humor, a flamboyant personality, and memorable style. She soon rose to popularity with this show and became a household name.
In later years, she portrayed Gemma Teller Morrow on the FX crime drama Sons of Anarchy, another notable role on her resume. She completely reinvented herself into the fierce matriarch of the biker gang and earned critical acclaim for the same. Across comedy genres, she has also been featured in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Dead to Me.
Sagal is also widely known for her voice acting work. She voiced Leela in the animated sci-fi comedy Futurama. Because of these well-known roles, many viewers immediately recognize Sagal when she appears as Dr. Kureha in One Piece. Her experience portraying bold, outspoken characters also makes her a natural fit for the sharp-tongued yet brilliant doctor from the manga.
Jamie Lee Curtis Wanted To Play Dr. Kureha
Before Katey Sagal was officially cast, Jamie Lee Curtis vied for the role of Dr. Kureha. Curtis needs no introduction as she is one of the best-known actresses in the industry. Moreover, she is an outspoken fan of One Piece. She publicly supported fan casting that imagined her as the character and even expressed interest in joining the Netflix adaptation. (via Instagram)
Even though the showrunners were eager to cast Curtis, scheduling issues ultimately prevented this dream from coming true. The role eventually went to Katey Sagal instead, bringing a different but equally recognizable screen presence to the character.
With Season 2 expanding the story into more interesting arcs and introducing characters such as Tony Tony Chopper, Dr. Kureha’s arrival on the scene is a pleasant welcome. What do you think about this casting? Tell us in the comments.
One Piece season 2 is streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
