Russi Taylor, Voice of Minnie Mouse, Gone at 75

Russi Taylor, 1944 – 2019 {image via Disney}

Disney reported today that Disney Legend Russi Taylor, best known as the voice of Minnie Mouse, has passed away on July 26, 20019, at the age of 75. The cause of death appears to be complications due to diabetes.

Bob Iger, the chairman and CEO of The Disney Company, said ““Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor.”

Russell Taylor was born May 4, 1944 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She died July 26, 2019 in Glendale, CA. She was married to Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse in 1991; they were married until his death in 2009. She has provided Minnie’s voice since 1986.

Rick Dempsey, Senior Vice President, Disney Character Voices said “Russi Taylor embodied the character of Minnie Mouse. She truly was one of the kindest, most gracious, upbeat, and loving people I have ever had the privilege to work with and to count as a friend. Anytime anyone met Russi, their day would always get just a little bit brighter. Not only was she amazingly talented and gifted, but she had a true desire to make the world a better place with the gifts she was blessed with. The world has a lost a real treasure. She will truly be missed, but her voice will live on.”

In addition to voicing Minnie Mouse for over 30 years, she also voiced Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and their friend Webbigail Vanderquack in Duck Tales. She voiced Martin Prince and twins Sherri and Terri in The Simpsons, both the TV show and the movie. She also voiced Pebbles Flintstone in A Flintstones Christmas Carol and Hollyrock-a-Bye-Baby. She was Birdie in McDonaldland. She provided several voices for Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks , Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, and Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King, and in the 1980s she was the voice of Strawberry Shortcake.

Russi Taylor has been nominated for three Emmy Awards for her voice work, as well as the Annie Awards twice, and named a Disney Legend in 2008.

Ms. Taylor has left an indelible legacy, helping to create a hopeful, bright world in which fantasy and delight still reign supreme. And to think: it all began with a mouse.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.

Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.