Sad news on Tuesday, Dec. 19: It was announced that Heather North, aka Daphne from Scooby-Doo, has died at the age of 71. Details from The Hollywood Reporter reveal that North passed away at her home on Nov. 30 after battling a long illness, as confirmed to the publication by Jodie Mann, a family friend.
North first began voicing Daphne Blake in September 1970 during its second season, replacing Stefanianna Christopherson on the Saturday morning animated series Scooby Doo, Where Are You!. North continued to reprise the role for 33 years, returning in The New Scooby-Doo Movies in 1972-73 appearing in many other revivals of the cartoon franchise up until 2003, according to THR.
As an actor, North starred alongside Kurt Russell in Disney's 1971 film The Barefoot Executive, and she's had appearances in television series such as Mr. Novak, Gidget, Green Acres, The Fugitive, The Monkees, My Three Sons and Adam-12. Off-screen, she was married to Emmy Award-winning director and soap opera producer H. Wesley Kenney, who she met while playing the role of Sandy Horton on Days of Our Lives, according to TMZ. The pair wed in 1971 and were married for over 40 years until Kenney's death in 2015.
According to THR, she's survived by her son Kevin and daughter-in-law Stephanie; stepdaughter Nina and her husband Brent; stepson Wes and his wife Leslie; and granddaughter Jocelyn. The site also points out that sadly another stepdaughter, Kara, died a week ago.
Fans of North and her work on the long-running cartoon series were understandably upset by the news, jumping to social media with an outpouring of love, while expressing their feelings and condolences on her passing.
Some Shared Their Gratitude
One commenter expressed shock, but also thanked North for her contributions to the entertainment world.
Others Were Honored To Watch Her On TV
Another was proud to have North and Daphne as part of their youth.
A Childhood Heroine
Referring to North as the "heroine of everyone's childhoods," this fan found it hard to break the news to her child.
Another Expressed Sorrow
Saddened to hear the shocking news that North passed away last month, one social media user took to Twitter to express their feelings.
First Crush
Meanwhile this Scooby-Doo enthusiast revealed that Daphne was a crush that impacted a lifetime.
R.I.P.
This fan shared love for the animated series while sharing condolences for both North and her character Daphne Blake.
This Fan Loved Her
Sharing the same sentiments as many, another commenter shares that North's voice was a huge part of their childhood.
Heartbroken
Someone was completely devastated upon learning of North's passing.
She'll Always Be Daphne
Careful not to shade the more recent voice of Daphne, Grey DeLisle, one Twitter user pointed out that North will always be their favorite.
Mostly, They Were Thankful For Her Work
Using some of Scooby Doo's signature '70s lingo, this reactor thanked North for keep kinds entertained over the years.
The news of North's death comes just weeks after the announcement that Warner Bros. and Blue Ribbon Productions are in the process of developing a live action spin-off about Daphne and Velma's life as besties and investigators prior to pairing up with the rest of the gang at Mystery Inc. The forthcoming film, which Deadline indicates will feature Sarah Jeffrey as Daphne Blake and Sarah Gilman as Velma Dinkley, will reportedly offer a more female-focused perspective on the sleuthing squad whose episodes were often centered around Daphne and Velma's male counterparts, Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo. Sparking the interest of a new generation of fans, the movie is said to provide details on the origin of Daphne and Velma's friendship, while putting a modern spin on the beloved characters' backgrounds in the investigative field.
Although the news of her passing is understandably upsetting, North's work as the intelligent and sassy Daphne Blake will, no doubt, continue live in the hearts of fans forever.
