Wayne Allwine (the voice of Mickey Mouse) has passed away

[madbrad76]

Some very sad news has been confirmed by Disney. Disney Legend Wayne Allwine, who has been the voice of Mickey Mouse since 1977, has passed away at the age of 62. My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family!

Although this article doesn't give any details as to the actual cause of his death, it does state at the end that he has passed away ... Disney Legend Wayne Allwine

 

[Disneyfn420]

I read it was complications from diabetes and that he was waiting for a kidney transplant.

I always thought it was so cute that "Mickey" and "Minnie" were married in real life.

So sad

RIP

 

[Parkhopper]

Oh, that is horrible news. I was lucky enough to meet him and his wife Russi on two occasions. They were such warm and gracious people. My prayers to Russi at this time.

Suzi

 

[NoLineOntheHorizon]

It is a sad day....prayers to his family. He gave us many timeless memories of Mickey.

 

[skier_pete]

Wow, what a loss! My prayers go out to Russi and his family on this one. Especially at such a "young" age.

Here is a man that will truly be missed, and I really mean that in the most literal sense. His voice is all over the parks, MMCH, video games..etc. I'm sure the replacement will sound very similar, but it won't sound the same.

Anyone remember when Mel Blanc died, and WB started having other performers doing Bugs, Daffy, Tweety..etc? As I said - not right.

SkierPete

 

[ckdipp]

Prayers to the entire Disney organization/family!

 

[AZDisneyDan]

Very, Very sad news. The Disney Company has lost a tremendous asset and from what I have read, an all around nice guy. My thoughts and prayers go out to all at the Disney Co. including Mickey, Minnie and the whole gang.

 

[Razor Roman]

Breif peice about his passing on Cartoon Brew:

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/disney/wayne-allwine-1947-2009.html

Very sad news indeed. The Mouse is speechless today. He not only brought joy to millions through film, TV, theme parks, video games, and talking toys, but he also regularly participated in a program where cartoon character voices would make personal calls in character to sick and terminally ill children.

 

[demonskrye]

Anyone remember when Mel Blanc died, and WB started having other performers doing Bugs, Daffy, Tweety..etc? As I said - not right.
SkierPete

To be fair, Mickey has already been voiced by at least two other people: Walt Disney himself and Jim MacDonald. A commenter on the Cartoon Brew obituary mentions that Carl Stalling and Clarence Nash were both voices of the Mouse as well, though never officially. So the comparison to the Warner Brothers characters, who were only officially voiced by Mel Blanc until his death, is not entirely fair. None of this is to diminish what Allwine brought to the role of Mickey or the sadness of his passing. I'm just saying that Mickey will most certainly live on and that I'm sure Disney will work hard to ensure that the next voice of the Mouse is a worthy successor.

I haven't read yet whether Allwine was aware of just how sick he was and whether he was able to start mentoring a potential new voice of Mickey before his death.

Ir's very sad news and my heart goes out to Alwwine's family and friends.

 

[skier_pete]

To be fair, Mickey has already been voiced by at least two other people: Walt Disney himself and Jim MacDonald. A commenter on the Cartoon Brew obituary mentions that Carl Stalling and Clarence Nash were both voices of the Mouse as well, though never officially. So the comparison to the Warner Brothers characters, who were only officially voiced by Mel Blanc until his death, is not entirely fair. None of this is to diminish what Allwine brought to the role of Mickey or the sadness of his passing. I'm just saying that Mickey will most certainly live on and that I'm sure Disney will work hard to ensure that the next voice of the Mouse is a worthy successor.

This is true, but again Mr. Allwine has been doing this exclusively for 30+ years...that is the voice we are all "used" to. I am not saying it is a sacrilege to get a different voice actor, far from it, it is a necessity. I am just saying, while most people won't know the switch has occurred...does the GP really know Wayne Allwine by name?...many will still notice the slight difference in Mickey's "voice".

SkierPete

 

[DisneyMartian]

This is true, but again Mr. Allwine has been doing this exclusively for 30+ years...that is the voice we are all "used" to. I am not saying it is a sacrilege to get a different voice actor, far from it, it is a necessity. I am just saying, while most people won't know the switch has occurred...does the GP really know Wayne Allwine by name?...many will still notice the slight difference in Mickey's "voice".

SkierPete

I agree. Mr. Allwine's voice is the voice I'm familiar with ever since it's the voice I grew up hearing. Not just the voice, but the characterization he portrayed through that voice. It's hard to describe in words what I mean, but just listening to the voice performance brings the listener a faint idea of what kind of a guy Mickey is: a warm, happy-go-lucky, generous kind of guy. A friend.

Knowing Disney's high standards, I have no doubt that they will make the careful choice of choosing a successor so I'm not worried about who will inherit the legacy. But to me, it will never be the same. All voice actors of the same character have a certain distinction between each other. Just listen to Walt's performance of Mickey and Allwine's; there's a slight difference. Same if you were to compare the voices of Joe Alaskey's Bugs Bunny with that of Mel Blanc's.

May Mr. Allwine rest in peace. My prayers go out to his friends and family.

 

[WDWCastMember]