Wayne Allwine passed away

Disney Villain · Post by **Disney Villain** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:57 pm

He will truly, truly be missed. I'm in shock over this and upset. I'll be listening to a few WDW shows and parades tonight, and over the next few days, to hear Mickey. God Bless Russi Taylor and their children. He will be missed.

Here is link from the Disney Legends web site. Scroll down to confirm his death: http://legends.disney.go.com/legends/de ... %20Allwine

It will be interesting to see how Disney reacts to this. Especially with Russi still providing the voice of Minnie (if she even wants to anymore) and the effect on future entertainment offerings in the theme parks.

God Bless, and rest in peace. You will truly be missed!!

Pasta67 · Post by **Pasta67** » Wed May 20, 2009 11:48 am

I... seriously cannot believe this. I honestly gasped when I learned about this over at ToonZone. We've had a ton of celebrity deaths over the past few years, but I think this is the only one to really make an impact on me, at least since John Feidler passed on.

The man has voiced Mickey for my entire lifetime and more, voicing the character longer than any actor before him. He's done hand-drawn animation, CGI, and even video games (Kingdom Hearts showed off his acting range beautifully; it really made me appreciate him on a whole new level.). His work is something that can never be duplicated. His Mickey was animated with Mel Blanc's Bugs Bunny in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, such an iconic milestone that can never happen again.

I can't even imagine how Russi Taylor must feel. She and her husband WERE Mickey and Minnie. She's been playing the character with her husband for so many years, it probably brought them so much closer. I can't even think of how hard it's going to be for her to go in to record for Minnie and have some other guy there replacing her husband.

This is just terrible news. I still can't believe it. It's said way too often, but this is the end of an era. I hope him, Walt, and Jimmy MacDonald are all partying it up in the afterlife right now.

Mason_Ireton · Post by **Mason_Ireton** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:22 pm

Wow....this is totaly unexpected... I really thought Kh 2 really expressed Wayne's talent as Mickey, you actauly felt Mickey's expressions..... I had no clue that he and Russi were actualy married till last year when i watched the interview on WDT: Mickey Mouse In Color Vol 2. I remember hearin Wayne's Mickey in W.F.R.Rabbit, that hooked up on Mickey's character, Wayne you'll greatly be missed by loyal Mickey fans...

Mr. Toad · Post by **Mr. Toad** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:44 pm

Both he and his wife seemed like very nice, sincere people in any extra footage I saw. R.I.P.

I think the fourth actor to play Mickey can wait a little while until the shock wears off.

KubrickFan · Post by **KubrickFan** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:18 pm

Wow, I was shocked when I read this. My sympathies to his entire family. 62 years old is way too young to go.
I always felt Mickey was underrated as a character, next to the much popular Donald Duck and Goofy. The interview conducted by Leonard Maltin with Wayne and Russi made my appreciation of Mickey even bigger.
But even though you could hear the differences between Walt's version, Jimmy's version or Wayne's version, they all shared the great love for the character and that showed in their performances. I don't want to talk about the next actor who will be Mickey, but he will have gigantic shoes to fill.

Mason_Ireton · Post by **Mason_Ireton** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:38 pm

As Mr.MacDonald advised a young Wayne when he was settin up to voice Mickey

"Just remember, kid. You're only filling in for the boss."

Not sure if this was posted but here's Jim Hill's insight on the unexpected death.

http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/ ... ibute.aspx

disneyboy20022 · Post by **disneyboy20022** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:44 pm

Here is my take on whether or not Russi will continue her work as Minnie Mouse

My Opinion is...don't drop off Russi being Minnie quite yet....while I understand and will have no problem if there is a new one due to the fact she might get choked up too much and its too many memories when there will be a new guy hired to do the job.....I am wondering if Wayne and Russi had talk to the effect of whichever ones of us passes first being Russi or Wayne...they might have talked to the extent to either quit doing it or just because one of them is gone does not mean the other will fade away in the shadows.....I mean there could be a time of mourning that the family gets as much space as they need..

One Example that comes to my mind is:

Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter.....His young daughter and Steve's Wife have not gone away...and no one would blame them if they did go away and dissapear due to the trauma of it.....They sought on and still continue Irwin's Mission...
__________________

Wonderlicious · Post by **Wonderlicious** » Wed May 20, 2009 3:16 pm

This is really sad news.

I have to say that I wonder who's going to voice Mickey now. His close friends and family (including, of course, Russi Taylor) are in my thoughts.

schoollover · Post by **schoollover** » Wed May 20, 2009 3:28 pm

This is sad, even though I never really knew who he was, still and death with a few exceptions should be sad.

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:12 pm

I highly doubt she'll stop doing Minnie. people need jobs.

Elladorine · Post by **Elladorine** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:20 pm

This seems to be hitting me harder as time passes on.

Kyle wrote:I highly doubt she'll stop doing Minnie. people need jobs.

She's 65, I wouldn't blame her if she chose this time to retire.

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:40 pm

D23's website has put up a tribute to him:

http://d23.disney.go.com/articles/05200 ... lwine.html

For some reason, I'm not sad so much as stunned. I wonder if this was something sudden or the family was expecting it. Either way, it's certainly a tragedy, and I'll be praying for Russi and the rest of the family. I agree with Jim Hill (for once) that Wayne actually did better in the role than Uncle Walt himself, at least in my opinion. Whoever takes over has some big shoes to fill.

Big Disney Fan · Post by **Big Disney Fan** » Wed May 20, 2009 4:51 pm

Disneykid wrote:I agree with Jim Hill (for once) that Wayne actually did better in the role than Uncle Walt himself, at least in my opinion. Whoever takes over has some big shoes to fill.

Personally, I don't think they can ever be as good as Uncle Walt, but that's just me.

We all know about Russi and the family's response to this death, but what about Tony Anselmo and Bill Farmer (the respective current voices of Donald and Goofy, of course)? Do either of them know about this?

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:26 pm

I read about this on a Kingdom Hearts board on Gamefaqs. It is sad.

Somebody also mentioned how soulless the company is, just because they'll replace him.

stewie15 · Post by **stewie15** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:21 pm

Somebody also mentioned how soulless the company is, just because they'll replace him.

Did the company shut down after Walt died?

What would be soulless would be not to replace him. For future children never to have a mickey would be awfull.

Oh and its odd I never really thought about the voice of Mickey. He was always just Mickey, a real live mouse. RIP Mr. Allwine you will be greatly missed and family and friends are in my paryers tonite.

pap64 · Post by **pap64** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:31 pm

A friend of mine told me about this. His passing is indeed a huge event for everyone. Disney, fans, the animation community, everyone.

A lot of projects will be affected by this. I think Disney will replace him since the show has to go on, but will pay A LOT of respect to the man who voiced Mickey from the 80s and defined the character for current audiences.

May he rest in peace and my condolences to his wife, partner and sweet Mouse, Russi Taylor.

thatartguy · Post by **thatartguy** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:33 pm

ajmrowland wrote:Somebody also mentioned how soulless the company is, just because they'll replace him.

Actually, Wayne will be immortalized because of Mickey. Wayne wasn't the first, and he won't be the last, even Wayne knew that. His talent is immeasurable to the character and won't be forgotten.

When they *do* get around to finding Mickey's new voice, I hope they find someone that pays as much respect to the character as the three people before them did.

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Wed May 20, 2009 8:48 pm

So sad and shocking. He really WAS Mickey for the past 30 years, and I loved how he was actually married to "Minnie". My sympathies to everyone. The loss here is truly widely felt. Had to be one of the most important voice actors around, if not number one. I hope his voice replacement is well chosen.

gardener14 · Post by **gardener14** » Wed May 20, 2009 9:03 pm

When I read the news I felt truly shocked in a way that I've never felt over a celebrity's passing. That's how significant the character of Mickey Mouse and what he embodies is. Mickey Mouse is not just a character on screen or stage. He enters our lives. Losing Wayne is like loosing a part of Mickey Mouse himself. Mickey Mouse will carry on, but for this moment in time it feels like he is lost.

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Wed May 20, 2009 11:29 pm

stewie15 wrote:
Somebody also mentioned how soulless the company is, just because they'll replace him.
Did the company shut down after Walt died?

What would be soulless would be not to replace him. For future children never to have a mickey would be awfull.

Oh and its odd I never really thought about the voice of Mickey. He was always just Mickey, a real live mouse. RIP Mr. Allwine you will be greatly missed and family and friends are in my paryers tonite.

exactly. People are temporary, characters are forever.

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Wayne Allwine passed away