Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are characters synonymous with The House of Mouse, AKA Disney. While Disney creator Walt Disney himself was the original voice of Mickey Mouse, today we lost the original voice behind Minnie Mouse.
Voice artist Russi Taylor brought Minnie Mouse to life in the mid-1980s. She passed away over the weekend. Disney made the announcement of 75-years-old Russi Taylor’s demise.
Statement from Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger on the passing of Disney Legend Russi Taylor: pic.twitter.com/4TpSVkT8BE
— The Walt Disney Company (@WaltDisneyCo) July 27, 2019
Disney issued a statement saying that Russi Taylor died on Friday in Glendale, California. The cause of death was not released.
Chairman and Chief Executive of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger acknowledged the loss.
“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor.”
The company lauded the voice artist’s efforts for breathing life into Minnie Mouse for 30 years, and for making the character the global brand that it is today.
“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.”
Russi Taylor the voice of Minnie Mouse and Wayne Allwin the voice behind Mickey Mouse
Not Just the Voice Behind Minnie Mouse
While the voice artist is most known for Mickey Mouse’s high-pitched and giggly partner Minnie Mouse, Russi Taylor is also the voice behind many other iconic characters.
Since 1986 Russi provided voice-overs for many animated television series like TaleSpin, The Little Mermaid, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Kim Possible. As well as provide voice-overs to films and theme parks featuring Minnie Mouse.
Another one of her iconic roles includes one from hit TV show The Simpsons. She also played Martin Prince.
Martin Prince was Bart Simpson’s studious and nerdy classmate. Russi Taylor was the voice of Martin Prince in The Simpsons for 30 years.
Martin Prince, Bart’s nerdy classmate in The Simpsons
The Simpsons executive producer A.I. Jean shared condolences for the loss of the artists that brought the twins Sherri and Terri, and German exchange student Uter Zorker to life.
She also voiced the characters Strawberry Shortcake, Baby Gonzo from Muppet Babies, Pebbles Flintstone and Duchess the Cat in the film Babe.
Russi Taylor’s Real-Life Mickey Mouse
Russi Taylor started working out with Disney as a child. She was just on a visit to Disneyland when Walt Disney met Russi Taylor, the rest is history.
“At one point during our chat, he (Walt Disney) asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, and I said, ‘I want to work for you!’ So he said, ‘Okay!’ And now I do!”
Despite being the soul behind many iconic characters Russi Taylor was happy working off-screen. In all this she found her real-life Mickey in the form of Wayne Allwine. Allwine was the third man to voice Mickey Mouse. He became the voice of Mickey in 1977. Taylor married Allwine in 1991, and they remained “inseparable as their animated counterparts until Wayne’s death.”
“I never wanted to be famous, The characters I do are famous, and that’s fine for me.”
