The voice of Mickey dies at 62

Wayne Allwine, the third person to ever voice Mickey Mouse, passed away Monday due to complications that arose from diabetes.

Allwine worked as a Walt Disney Studios voice-over artist and held the esteemed position of the voice of Mickey Mouse for more than three decades, having been given the role in 1976.

His first appearance as the voice of Mickey was in the animated lead-ins for "The New Mickey Mouse Club" in 1977. From there, Allwine voiced his first theatrical release as Mickey in the "Mickey's Christmas Carol" featurette in 1983 and continued to helm the heaviest steamboat in the Disney armada until this week.

Aside from Allwine's Mickey duties, he also lent his voice to starring roles in "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990) and "Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers" (2004), as well as Disney's animated series "Mickey's Mouse Works" (1999-200), "House of Mouse" (2001-2002), and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" (2006-2008).

"Wayne not only gave voice to the character of Mickey but gave him a heart and soul as well," said Roy Disney in a statement. "He did an incredible job bringing emotion, humor and appeal to the character, and superbly carried on the tradition originated by my Uncle Walt . . ."

In 2008, both Allwine and his wife, Russi–the current voice of Minnie Mouse–were named Disney Legends. As of 2009, Allwine has voiced Mickey Mouse longer than any before him.

We at Lifthill offer our condolences to his family and loved-ones. He will be missed.