Russi Taylor, longtime voice of Minnie Mouse, dies at 75

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 22: Voice actress Russi Taylor, who has voiced Minnie Mouse since 1986, poses with Minnie Mouse during a star ceremony in celebration of the 90th anniversary of Disney's Minnie Mouse at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 22



GLENDALE, Calif. — Russi Taylor, an actress who gave voice to Minnie Mouse for more than three decades, has died.

Walt Disney Co. chairman Bob Iger announced Taylor's death in a statement Saturday.

Disney says Taylor died Friday in Glendale, California. She was 75. The cause wasn't immediately clear.

Taylor became the official voice of Minnie in 1986, beating out more than 200 competitors who auditioned. She voiced Minnie across Disney projects in film, television and theme parks including the movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and the TV show "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse."



Iger says she entertained millions around the world.

A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Taylor married the man who voiced Mickey opposite her, Wayne Allwine, in 1991. Allwine died in 2009.

She also provided voices for several smaller characters on "The Simpsons."