The voice of Minnie Mouse has passed away

The woman who brought Minnie Mouse to life for over 30 years, Russi Taylor, has died at the age of 75.

The actress - who also voice the characters of fourth-grade nerd Martin Prince and purple-haired twins Sherri and Terri in The Simpsons - passed away from colon cancer in California on Friday.

Taylor worked as the voice of the iconic Disney character from 1986, lending her talents to a range of projects, including TV series, films and even Disney theme parks.

Bob Iger, Disney's chairman and chief executive, has paid a glowing tribute to the late actress, saying she helped to make Minnie "a global icon".

He said in a statement: "For more than 30 years, Minnie and Russi worked together to entertain millions around the world - a partnership that made Minnie a global icon and Russi a Disney Legend beloved by fans everywhere.

"We take comfort in the knowledge that her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come."

Taylor actually married Wayne Allwine, who was the voice of Mickey, in 1991 and they remained married until his death in 2009.

Disney said in its statement that the duo remained "as inseparable as their animated counterparts until Wayne's death".

Prior to her own passing, Taylor - who also voiced Huey, Dewey and Louie in DuckTales, Strawberry Shortcake, Pebbles Flintstone and Baby Gonzo in Muppet Babies, and parts of The Little Mermaid, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command and Kim Possible - insisted she never craved fame and that, unlike the animated characters she played, she never considered herself to be famous.

She shared: "I never wanted to be famous. The characters I do are famous, and that's fine for me."