Voice of Mickey Mouse has passed away

[Darth Caedus]

LOS ANGELES – Wayne Allwine, the actor who voiced Mickey Mouse for more than 30 years, has died.

The Walt Disney Co. says Allwine died Monday of complications from diabetes, with Russi Taylor, his wife of 20 years and the voice of Minnie Mouse, by his side. He was 62.

"Wayne dedicated his entire professional life to Disney," chief executive Robert Iger said in a statement Wednesday. "Over the last 32 years, (he) gave so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to our most beloved, iconic character, Mickey Mouse."

A Southern California native, Allwine joined Disney in 1966 when he took a job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company's main mouse in 1977.

His falsetto can be heard in 1983's "Mickey's Christmas Carol," 1988's "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and at Disney theme parks around the world. He won an Emmy Award in 1986 for his sound editing on the NBC series "Amazing Stories."

Allwine was the third man behind Mickey's voice. The first was Disney himself, then Jimmy MacDonald, who became Allwine's mentor and passed him the reins after voicing the mouse for 30 years.

"He said, 'Just remember kid, you're only filling in for the boss,'" Allwine once recalled. "And that's the way he treated doing Mickey for years and years."

"Mickey's the real star," Allwine continued. "You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won't be yours forever."

Roy E. Disney, director emeritus for The Walt Disney Co., said Allwine did more than give Mickey a voice. He "gave him a heart and soul as well."

"He did an incredible job of bringing emotion, humor and appeal to the character, and superbly carried on the tradition originated by my Uncle Walt, and later by sound-effects wizard Jimmy Macdonald."

Besides Taylor, Allwine is survived by five children from a previous marriage: Erin, Alison, Peter, Christopher and Joshua.

Sad day for Disney. Granted, there are probably people who can imitate him exactly, it won't be the same.

 

[Agent0028]

Yeah, pretty much this is the Mickey voice I grew up with. Naturally I've heard Walt and MacDonald from the earlier shorts, but this is the one I've heard every time I went to Disney.

 

[Aerosmith]

Very sad. IMO he was the best that voiced Mickey. He gave him so much life and character in his performance. I havnt been this sad about someone dieing that I didnt know personally since Jim Henson.

 

[plasmid303]

He was the third Mickey voice actor? I don't want to sound insensitive (and I love Mickey, of course), but honestly I didn't know his name until today and I'm sure he can be replaced, like the guy behind Tony the Tiger.

BIG SAD EDIT: I just found out he did the voice for King Mickey in Kingdom Hearts I and II. I loved those games and King Mickey was the most badass character. Now I'll miss the guy.

 

[Agent0028]

Kingdom Hearts is such an awesome game. I wonder when 3 will come out.

 

[galactiboy]

Crazy that his wife is also the voice of Minnie Mouse...

 

[Darth Waller]

Crazy that his wife is also the voice of Minnie Mouse...

One of the Walt Disney Treasures extras had an interview with them talking about voicing the characters. I guess at the time I didn't realize they were married.

 

[The ill Jedi]

Crazy that his wife is also the voice of Minnie Mouse...

Awesome that they married each other.

R.I.P. Wayne.

 

[thx1964]

Very sad to hear this. Having a 2-year old daughter means that Mickey has been a part of our everyday life for a little while now.

 

[Aerosmith]

Kingdom Hearts is such an awesome game. I wonder when 3 will come out.

Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories came out last year on PS2

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 comes out on DS August 31

Kingdom Hearts 1 & 2 were the best games I played on PS2.

 

[Agent0028]

Thanks for the update. Had I known I would have played Chain of Memories on the PS2. I don't like playing games on those tiny consoles so I'll skip it on the DS.

They were really awesome games. I loved in 2 when you died and you could play as Mickey for a little bit. That was so great. And I loved visiting the different worlds.

 

[DinoLast]

This is very Sad news as I love to watch The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my two year old daughter.
She even has a Mickey Mouse Toy that she cuddles at bedtime.
Mickey will live on, but just like kermit I will miss that part of his legacy that has passed away.
RIP Wayne Allwine, you were my Mickey Mouse