Disney Legend Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse, passes away at age 75

Animation fans are mourning the passing of voice actor Russi Taylor, the long-time voice of Minnie Mouse and other beloved cartoon characters, who passed away in Glendale, California on July 26, 2019, at the age of 75.

The Disney Parks blog reported Taylor’s death on July 27, following a career that spanned nearly four decades. Russi was best known as the official voice of Minnie Mouse, a role she first assumed more than 30 years ago, and gave voice to Minnie in hundreds of Disney projects, from television, to theme park experiences, animated shorts, and theatrical films.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 4, 1944, Russi had a desire to work for Disney since childhood. “When I was a little girl, I was with my mom and my brother, and it was late at night at Disneyland. 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. 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, ‘Okay!’—and now I do!”

Russi beat out 200 other hopefuls during a 1986 audition to win the role of Minnie Mouse. She would go on to voice Minnie in the films Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Runaway Brain, Get a Horse!, and Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, as well as several television series, including Mickey MouseWorks, House of Mouse, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers, and the award-winning Mickey Mouse shorts series for Disney Channel from Disney Television Animation that debuted in 2013.

Walt Disney World guests will get to enjoy one of Taylor’s final performances as Minnie when Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opens in early 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Russi met Wayne Allwine, who had voiced Mickey Mouse since 1977, in the mid-1980s; the pair fell in love and married in 1991, remaining inseparable until Wayne’s passing in 2009. “I really want whoever comes after us to be aware of the history and the tradition, and to love the characters as much as we do,” she said of herself and Wayne.

Russi’s other Disney voices have included Nurse Mouse in The Rescuers Down Under, as well as Donald’s mischievous nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and their friend Webbigail Vanderquack in the original DuckTales animated series. She 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; as well as modern favorites that include Sofia the First, The Lion Guard, and Tangled: The Series.

In addition to her performances for Disney, Russi was best known for contributions to several characters on The Simpsons. She provided the voice of Martin Prince and the twins, Sherri and Terri, on more than 100 episodes of The Simpsons, as well as the feature The Simpsons Movie.

Simpsons producer Al Jean posted on Twitter that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Russi Taylor,” calling her “a true delight to work with.”

Other famous roles on Russi’s resume of credits are Strawberry Shortcake, Baby Gonzo (from Muppet Babies), Pebbles Flintstone, Duchess the Cat in the film Babe, and Ferny Toro in Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks.

“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” said Bob Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “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. We’re so grateful for Russi’s talent as well as the tremendous spirit and great joy she brought to everything she did. 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 will be sorely missed and our hearts go out to her family and friends, along with our deepest condolences.”

“Russi was as close as family; as wonderful, funny, and sweet as Minnie Mouse, and as talented yet humble as you would expect,” said Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy and a longtime friend of Russi. “I will deeply and dearly miss her.”

“Russi Taylor embodied the character of Minnie Mouse,” remembers Rick Dempsey, Senior Vice President, Disney Character Voices. “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.”

“You have to bring yourself to a character,” Russi once observed. “But because of this particular character, she actually enhances who I am, she really does. In a sense Minnie makes me better than I was before ’cause there’s a lot to live up to.”

“I never wanted to be famous,” she once said. “The characters I do are famous, and that’s fine for me.”