A statement from the Walt Disney Company announced that the actress had died in Glendale., California on Friday.
“Minnie Mouse lost her voice with the passing of Russi Taylor,” said Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company.
“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’re so grateful for Russi’s talent as well as the tremendous spirit and great joy she brought to everything she did.
“It was a privilege to have known her and an honour to have worked with her, and we take comfort in the knowledge that her work will continue to entertain and inspire for generations to come.”
Russi’s cause of death of is unknown.
Russi was picked from 200 candidates to play the role of Minnie Mouse after an audition in 1986 and would go on to voice the character in animated TV series, films and theme parks.
She voiced Minnie in films including Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Mickey, Donald, Goofey: The Three Musketeers, as well as in several TV series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mickey MouseWorks.
In addition to this, she also worked on The Simpsons and other animated series including The Little Mermaid, Kim Possible and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.
Her other Disney voiceover work included Nurse Mouse in The Rescuers Down Under, as well as Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie in the original DuckTales animation.
Russi found her real-life Mickey when she married Wayne Allwine, who had voiced Mickey Mouse since 1997.
The couple married in 1991 and continued to work together within their respective animated characters until Wayne’s death in 2009.
Russi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 4 May 1944 and has been a Disney fan since childhood.
She recalled meeting Walt Disney once as a young girl.
“I was with my mom and my brother, and it was late at night at Disneyland,” she said.
“We had just come off the Mark Twain Riverboat and were getting some popcorn. I looked over and saw Walt sitting on a bench, so we introduced ourselves and shared our popcorn with him.
“At one point during our chat, he asked me what I wanted to do when I grow up, and I said, ‘I want to work for you!’ So he said, ‘Ok!’ – and now I do!”
Tributes have been pouring in for the famed actress, with Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy saying her “dearly miss” his long-time friend.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: “There are too many memories to share, and too many laughs to count. Disney lost its queen, the world lost a star, but most of all I lost a friend.
“I love you and I’ll miss you forever Russi. Rest In Peace and give Wayne a big hug and kiss for me.”
Fans also offered their condolences, as one person penned: “Farewell to the hilarious, huggable Russi Taylor, who every day exploded with love for her characters.”
Another person added: “Rest In Peace to Russi Taylor, who gave her voice to dozens of childhood favorites and returned to voice Young Donald for the DT17 Christmas episode. We’ll miss you Russi.”