Russel Russi Taylor (May 4, 1944 – July 26, 2019) was an American voice actress, best-known as the official voice of Disney's Minnie Mouse and Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
She made her voice acting debut as Strawberry Shortcake in the titular protagonist's TV specials and shows. She was very prominent on animated projects of the 1980s, including tons of Saturday morning cartoons of that era. Children of that generation will recognize her as Cupcake in My Little Pony 'n Friends, Puppy and Smoogle in The Smurfs, Phanty in Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School and others.
Beginning in 1986, she became the official voice of Minnie Mouse, but wouldn't fully take over the role until 1988 with the premiere of the Totally Minnie Special. Besides Minnie, her other best-known role is Martin Prince, and the twins Sherri and Terri in The Simpsons.
She was beloved in the animation community for frequently voicing female (and male) characters that are charming and likeable. Taylor's voice acting is best known for having a very cutesy but lovable voice which she maintained for the rest of her life.
Russi Taylor married Wayne Allwine (voice of Mickey Mouse until 2009) in 1991 and frequently co-starred
in numerous Disney projects alongside Bill Farmer (Goofy, Pluto, and Horace Horsecollar), Tress MacNeille (Daisy Duck and Chip), Tony Anselmo (Donald Duck), Corey Burton (Dale and Ludwig von Drake), Jim Cummings (Pete), April Winchell (Clarabelle Cow), and Alan Young (Scrooge McDuck).
She passed away on July 26, 2019, of colon cancer at the age of 75, a full 10 years after her husband's passing. Her final performance was as Minnie Mouse at the Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway, which opened March 4, 2020 note at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Walt Disney World Resort. After her passing, Kaitlyn Robrock would take over the roles of Minnie Mouse and Clara Cluck and Grey DeLisle took over her roles on The Simpsons.
Select Filmography
Advertising
- Birdie the Early Bird in various McDonaldland commercials for McDonald's throughout the 1980s and early to mid-1990s. (Patty Maloney was the costumed performer)
- Otama in Pom Poko (2005 English dub)
Film
- Minnie Mouse in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
- Duchess the Cat in Babe (1995)
Animated Films
- Nurse Mouse in The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
- Minnie Mouse in Runaway Brain (1995 animated short)
- Minnie Mouse, Huey, Dewey, and Louie in Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
- Daisy Duck in Fantasia 2000 (2000)
- The Fairy Godmother, Drizella Tremaine, Mary Mouse, Beatrice, and Daphne in Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002)
- Minnie Mouse in Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers (2004)
- Minnie Mouse, Huey, Dewey, and Louie in Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (2004)
- Widow Tweed in The Fox and the Hound 2 (2006)
- Martin Prince in The Simpsons Movie (2007)
- Pebbles in The Flintstones: Stone Age SmackDown! (2015)
Live Shows
- Dopey in some of the Disney on Ice shows until 2019.
- Birdie the Early Bird in Ronald McDonald & Friends Friendship Adventure Show
and Musical Show of Ronald McDonald (2013, 2014) (Reprised her role as the character for a few local Mcdonalds show and one of the final times she ever voiced Birdie)
Video Games
- Tanya in Quest For Glory IV: Shadows Of Darkness (1993)
- Minnie, Huey, Dewey, and Louie in Mickey's Speedway USA (Nintendo 64 version only) (2000)
- Huey, Dewey, and Louie in Donald Duck: Goin' Qu@ckers (2000)
- Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Minnie Mouse in Disney Learning: Mickey Mouse Kindergarten (2000)
- Huey, Dewey, Louie and Minnie Mouse in Mickey Mouse Preschool (2000)
- Minnie Mouse, Fauna, Drizella, and The Fairy Godmother in the Kingdom Hearts series (2002-2019)
- Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby in Ducktales: Remastered (2013)
Western Animation
- Strawberry Shortcake in the original 1979/1980s incarnation (1980-1985)
- Pac-Baby in Pac-Man (1982–1984)
- Lollychop the Sheep in Peter and the Magic Egg (1983)
- Puppy and Smoogle in The Smurfs (1984-1989)
- Gonzo in Muppet Babies (1984)
- Cupcake in My Little Pony 'n Friends (1986)
- Leota in The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (1986)
- Beehonie, Toot, Miss Emmy Lou, the Cackle Sisters, and Donna in Kissyfur (1987)
- Huey, Dewey, and Louie alongside Webby in DuckTales (1987)
- Phantasma in Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School (1988) (Taylor would later reprise her role as Phantasma in the Halloween Episode of OK Ko Lets Be Heroes "Monster Party")
- Martin Prince, Jr., Sherri, and Terri, and Üter Zörker in The Simpsons (1990-2019)
- Huey, Dewey, and Louie and Baby Gonzo in Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990)
- Brattus in Mr. Bogus (1991)
- Weathermeister in Biker Mice from Mars (1993)
- Miles "Tails" Prower in the pilot episode of Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)
- Pebbles in Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby (1993) and A Flintstones Christmas Carol (1994)
- Penny in The Critic (1997)
- Becky in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-2001)
- Minnie, Duchess, and Madame Mim in House of Mouse (2001-2002)
- Mrs. Z in Clifford's Puppy Days (2003)
- Ferny, Ciara, and Elly Winks in Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (2003)
- Duchess in storyboards for The Aristocats II (cancelled)
- Melvin and Timmy Tantrum in Teen Titans (2005)
- Minnie Mouse and Quoodles in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (2006-2019)
- Fauna in Sofia the First (2013)
- Muhanga, Mtoto's Mom ("Follow That Hippo!" only) and Mbuni in The Lion Guard (2016)
- Pebbles in Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs (2018 pilot only)
- Young Donald Duck in DuckTales (2017) ("Last Christmas" only, replaced by Cristina Valenzuela) (2018)
