Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse since the mid-1980s, has died, according to the Walt Disney Company. She was 75. She died Friday in Glendale, California, Disney said in a statement. The cause of death was not released.
Russi Taylor, the voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse for more than 30 years, has died aged 75. The actress died in Glendale, California on Friday (Jul 26), media reports said citing the Walt Disney Company.
Since 1986, Taylor provided voice-overs for animated TV series, films and theme parks featuring Mickey Mouse's high-pitched and giggly partner Minnie.
She also played characters in The Simpsons, including Bart's dorky classmate Martin.
Mirroring the character she played, Taylor married Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey until his death in 2009.
Bob Iger, Disney's chairman and chief executive, paid tribute to Taylor in a statement released on Saturday.
Taylor, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1944, was picked from 200 candidates to play Minnie at an audition in 1986.
When visiting Disneyland as a girl, Taylor said she met Walt Disney - the first voice of Minnie and Mickey.
Taylor married Allwine in 1991, and they remained "as inseparable as their animated counterparts until Wayne's death", Disney said.
Before Taylor, other voice actors who played Minnie included Marcellite Garner (in the 1930s), Thelma Boardman (in the 1940s) and Ruth Clifford (in the 1940s and 50s).
As well as Disney characters, Taylor also lent her voice to roles on other classic TV animated series like TaleSpin, The Little Mermaid, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Kim Possible.
