The Walt Disney Company confirmed the death Saturday of Russi Taylor, the famous voice of Minnie Mouse since the mid-1980s.
“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” Bob Iger, Disney Company chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.
“For 30 years Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world – a partnership that made Minnie a global icon and Russi a Disney legend beloved by fans everywhere,” Iger said.
Taylor, who was married to the late actor Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse, died Friday in Glendale, California, People magazine reported.
“We’re so grateful for Russi’s talent as well as the tremendous spirit and great joy she brought to everything she did,” Iger said.
“It was a privilege to have known her and an honor to have worked with her, and we take comfort in the knowledge that her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come,” he said.
The American voice actress is best known as Minnie Mouse in a role she won after beating out 200 other hopefuls during an audition in 1986, according to Variety.
She has appeared in hundreds of Disney projects, including films, animated shorts, television shows and theme park exhibits.
She also voiced the characters of Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, and, on “The Simpsons,” Martin Prince and the twins, Sherri and Terri.
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