THE VOICE OF MINNIE MOUSE RUSSI TAYLOR DIES AT 75
Veteran voice artist Russi Taylor who was the official voice of Disney’s Minnie Mouse for over three decades died in Glendale, California, confirmed Disney on Saturday. She was 75.
The cause of her death was not revealed. Since 1986, Taylor provided voice-over for Minnie Mouse in animated TV series, films, etc. She has also played characters in The Simpsons including Bart’s dorky classmate Martin. Other notable characters she has given her voice include Strawberry Shortcake, Pebbles Flintstone. Her magnificent career as a voice-over artist spanned for about four decades.
Taylor was selected from amongst 200 candidates for the voice of Minnie Mouse at an audition in 1986. She met her real-life Mickey and married him in 1991. It was none other than Wayne Allwine who had voiced Mickey Mouse since 1977 till his death in 2009. The couple remained as inseparable as their animated counterparts until Wayne’s death.
“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” said Disney’s CEO Bob Iger, ” We take comfort in the knowledge that her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come,” he continued.
The Massachusetts native said that she met Walt Disney as a girl on a visit to Disneyland, she stated according to Disney:
” At one point in our chat, he asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, and I said that ‘ I want to work for you,’ and he said ‘okay’ and now I do.”
Named as a Disney legend in 2008, Taylor once said that she hoped that whoever succeeds her and her husband ” loved the character as much as we do.”
“I never wanted to be famous,” Taylor once said according to Disney, ” The characters I do are famous and that’s fine for me.”
TRIBUTES FLOODING ALL OVER!!
The news of her death has flooded the internet with tributes from several celebrities as well as fans.
My heart is broken. You will never meet a woman as sweet, generous, talented & luminescent as #RussiTaylor. I first met her when we did #PigglyWinks together. She would sit beside me and let me wear all her fancy rings. Then she would point through the glass to her husband Wayne
— tara strong (@tarastrong) July 27, 2019
#RIP Russi Taylor, 75.
The voice of Minnie Mouse since 1986.
But for fans of @TheSimpsons she was the enthusiastic nerdy student Martin Prince, the twins Sherri & Terri, and the chocolate loving German exchange student Üter. pic.twitter.com/renLphCpXa— Rhett Bartlett (@dialmformovies) July 27, 2019
Farewell to the wonderful Russi Taylor, who brought such joy to many of our favorite characters like Martin Prince, Üter and so many more on the Simpsons & Disney & the animated world. #RIPRussiTaylor pic.twitter.com/TdTpNy7Vj3
— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) July 27, 2019