Courage the Cowardly Dog’s voice artist Thea White passes away

The voice artist, well known for playing the cowardly dog’s sweet elderly owner, was diagnosed with liver cancer a few months ago, according to her brother

American voice actor Thea Ruth White, well known for starring in Cartoon Network’s animated show Courage the Cowardly Dog, has passed away at the age of 81 in Cleveland. The news of the veteran actor’s demise was shared by her brother John Zitzner on Facebook.

According to the post by White’s brother, she had been diagnosed with liver cancer months ago and had been undergoing treatment for the same. She died on July 30, Friday due to complications related to surgery. Zitzner had also posted a video in memory of the artist, recorded a few days before White’s death, where she is seen to be ‘wishing her family good times’.

Born in New Jersey, Thea had attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the American Theater Wing to study acting. White had started her acting career as a part of several stage productions, and has also worked on Broadway, and as a librarian.

She was perhaps most well known as the voice of Muriel Bagge in Courage the Cowardly dog, an animated show about an easily scared dog ironically, named Courage, who has to muster up courage every time he has to save his elderly and oblivious owners when they are faced with surreal and often supernatural dangers. White’s character Muriel is a caring, lovable old lady who adores Courage.

In addition to voicing the character on the series, which ran for four seasons from 1999 till 2002, White has also voiced Muriel on a videogame as well as on a crossover episode of another show.

She is survived by her brothers, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews as well as her grand-nieces and nephews.

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