“Her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come.”
Russi Taylor, the voice of Disney’s Minnie Mouse, has passed away aged 75.
The voice actor, who also loaned her vocal talents to The Simpsons, The Flintstones, and The Little Mermaid, passed away in Glendale, California on Friday.
Disney confirmed her death this weekend, saying: “Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor.”
“For more than 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,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
“It was a privilege to have known her and an honour 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.”
Taylor started voicing Minnie Mouse in 1986 after winning the role over 200 other actors.
Later on, she met and married Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse who had started work with the company almost a decade prior.
The pair married in 1991 and remained together until Allwine’s death in 2009.
Taylor recalled meeting Walt Disney when she was a child visiting Disneyland. She told him that she had wanted to work for him when she grew up.
“We had just come off the Mark Twain Riverboat and were getting some popcorn. I looked over and saw Walt sitting on a bench, so we introduced ourselves and shared our popcorn with him,” she said.
“At one point during our chat, he asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, and I said, ‘I want to work for you!’ So he said, ‘Ok!’ – and now I do!”
