Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse for more than three decades, dies at age 75

Russi Taylor, the official voice of Minnie Mouse by Disney for more than three decades, has died, announced Saturday the entertainment giant. She was 75 years old.

Ms. Taylor, who tended to laugh as the character she had expressed, captured the heart and sound of her Mickey Mouse counterpart on television, cartoons and movies, as well as in parks. theme.

"Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the death of Russi Taylor," said Bob Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company, in a statement.

"For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi have collaborated to entertain millions of people around the world, and this partnership has made Minnie a global icon and Russi a legend of Disney that is much appreciated by fans around the world.

"We are rebadured to know that his work will continue to entertain and inspire future generations," said Iger.

Russi Taylor died Friday in Glendale, California, said Disney. The company did not indicate the cause of death.

At a 1986 hearing, Taylor was chosen by Disney from a pool of 200 candidates.

The Mbadachusetts native said she met Walt Disney as a girl on a visit to Disneyland.

"At one point in our conversation, he asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up and said," I want to work for you! "So he said:" agree! – and now I do it! "She would have been quoted in a profile published by Disney.

Life imitates art when Russi meets his real life, Mickey, in the 1980s: it's Wayne Allwine, who has been expressing Mickey Mouse since 1977.

"Wayne was coming out of a session as Mickey for" Totally Minnie. "We met in the hallway, and we really mixed," said Russi Taylor at the LA Times in 2014.

Russi Taylor's voice captured the heart and sound of Mickey Mouse's counterpart on TV

They married in 1991, but generally "kept silent". We did not want Mickey and Minnie to get married. It was about Wayne and Russi. We had a great time. We laughed a lot. We have always sung. We have always had music at home. "

The duo stayed as close as their animated counterparts until Wayne's death in 2009.

"I really want anyone who comes after us to know about history and tradition, and love the characters as much as we do," she said about Allwine and D & # 39; herself.

"I never wanted to be famous," she said. "The characters I'm doing are famous, and I'm happy."

Besides Minnie Mouse and other Disney characters, Taylor was also the voice of Strawberry Shortcake and Pebbles Flintstone. She has worked on television for decades, including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Simpsons".

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