Mickey Mouse Loses His Voice

People all over the world love Mickey Mouse, so it's only fitting to pay tribute to the late Wayne Allwine, the actor responsible for Mickey's voice for more than 30 years. The Walt Disney Co. says Allwine passed away on Monday of complications from diabetes at 62.

In a bittersweet farewell, Mickey's cartoon wife said good-bye as well – Allwine's wife of 20 years and the voice of Minnie Mouse, Russi Taylor, was by his side.

Allwine became Mickey's voice in 1977, after working his way up from the mail room and then the sound effects department, where he honed his voiceover skills. He won an Emmy Award in 1986 for his sound editing on the NBC series Amazing Stories.