Voice actor and sound editor Wayne Allwine died 18 May 2009 from complications of diabetes. Born 7 February 1947 in Los Angeles, California, he will be remembered as the voice of Mickey Mouse (he’d held the role since 1977, following Walt Disney himself, and then Jimmy MacDonald from 1946 to 1976).
He began his Disney career in the mail room, in 1966. After a short stint in the wardrobe department, he moved into audio post production. In 1977, he won an open audition to voice Mickey, and has provided the iconic characters voice on television and in films ever since. And in a nice parallel to real life, Allwine’s wife, Russi Taylor, has voiced Minnie Mouse since 1986 (the couple married in 1991).
In addition to his Mickey Mouse work, Allwine had a voice role in The Black Cauldron (1985).
Allwine shared an Emmy Award in 1986, for sound editing for a series, for his work on Amazing Stories. As a sound editor or sound effects editor, his genre work includes: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Alien Nation (1988), Innerspace (1987), Psycho III (1986), The Black Cauldron (1985), Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985), Frankenweenie (1984), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), and The Black Hole (1979).
Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger issued a statement saying there was a “profound sense of loss and sadness throughout our company” over Allwine’s death. Interestingly, this reporter was at Walt Disney World from last Wednesday until yesterday, and while we noticed the flags flying at half-staff on Monday and Tuesday, there was no announcement as to the reason (indeed, one of the cast members thought it was due to the death of a local police officer).
Allwine is survived by his wife and their four children.