Wayne Allwine (1947-2009)

Wayne Allwine, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, the third person in history to play the character in various movies and TV shows, has passed away.

According to Wikipedia, Allwine’s first appearance as Mickey was voicing the animated lead-ins for The New Mickey Mouse Club in 1977. His first appearance as Mickey for a theatrical release was in the 1983 featurette Mickey’s Christmas Carol and he has provided the voice for Mickey Mouse ever since. He was married to Russi Taylor, the current voice of Minnie Mouse. Allwine was also a sound effects editor for various feature films. Allwine died on Monday, due to complications from diabetes. He was 62.

UPDATE: Animation Guild rep Steve Hulett has written his memories of working with Wayne Allwine when they were both traffic boys at Disney in the mid-1960s.

Below is an interview with Allwine and Taylor from the Walt Disney Treasures box set Mickey Mouse in Living Color: Volume Two.