Thea White, the voice of Marilù (Muriel) in "Leone the cowardly dog" has died at the age of 81

Actress Thea White, known for voicing the kind peasant Marilù (Muriel) Bagge in Courage the Cowardly Dog (Courage the Cowardly Dog) the popular Cartoon Network animated series, died on Friday July 30 at the age of 81.

The news was shared on Facebook by his brother, John Zitzner, who explained that his sister had been diagnosed with liver cancer a few months ago and had her tumor removed at the Cleveland Clinic in early July. Two days before his death, White underwent exploratory surgery to deal with the infection, but sadly it was not successful.

Born Thea Ruth Zitzner in New Jersey on June 16, 1940, White came from a lineage of passionate artists on her mother's side, according to a profile of New Jersey Hills Media Group. After graduating from high school, she studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and the American Theater Wing in New York, starting a professional theater career in her 20s. While performing in Dallas, she met her future husband, drummer Andy White, who played on Beatles songs like "Love Me Do" and was performing with Marlene Dietrich at the time. This led White on tour with the early 20th century star as her personal assistant until Dietrich was injured on stage in Australia.

Thea and Andy got married in 1983 and eventually returned to New Jersey, where White decided to get a "regular job" as an outreach specialist at the Livingston Library. Just when she wasn't looking for him, White's "big breakthrough" in animation came when an old acquaintance put her in touch with a production company looking for someone who could speak with a Scottish accent, as her husband was Scottish. The retired actress decided to take the opportunity, which turned out to be on the hit Cartoon Network show.

“One of the best things about dubbing is that you never have to retire,” White said New Jersey Hills Media Group in 2002. "As long as you can talk, you can work, and oh boy, I can talk!"

Courage the Cowardly Dog was created by John R. Dilworth for Cartoon Network and ran for four seasons (52 episodes) from 1999 to 2002. Born as What a cartoon! brief The chicken from space, the 2D series revolves around a small pink dog named Courage who lives with his elderly owners, Muriel and Eustace in Nowhere, Kansas. The surreal comedy sees the rural family plagued by paranormal, supernatural and sinister events, forcing the reluctant Courage to save the day.

John Zitzner wrote on Facebook that before his death, White was looking forward to his latest project: the animated crossover film. Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! Meets Courage the Cowardly Dog, which will arrive in home video from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in September.

White leaves the brothers Stewart Zitzner and John Zitzner, the wife of John Peg Zitzner and many nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

[H / T Variety]