Actress Heather North famed as the voice of Daphne on the Scooby-Doo cartoons has died at the age of 71 after losing her battle with a long illness.
She passed away surrounded by her family on November 30 at her home in Studio City, California.
North voiced the danger-prone sleuth in the Hanna-Barbera series solidly between 1970 and 1986, before returning to the role over the years.
North Hollywood's First Christian Church, which will hold a memorial service for the actress, confirmed her death.
Heather North has died at the age of 71. She passed away in Studio City, California after suffering from a long illness. Seen in 1972
The actress was best known for voicing the character of pretty sleuth Daphne Blake on the animated TV series Scooby-Doo, which debuted in 1970
North also starred on the TV shows Love American Style, Adam-12 and Days Of Our Lives.
She was also known for starring alongside Kurt Russell in Disney's The Barefoot Executive.
The star first voiced Daphne in 1970 during the second season of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You, having replaced Stefanianna Christopherson.
In 1972 and 1973 she worked on The New Scooby-Doo Movies.
North continued to voice Daphne through the many spin-offs and specials, like Scooby-Doo Goes Hollywood in 1979 and The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries in 1984.
Her last Scooby-Doo job was in 2003 with Scooby-Doo And The Monster Of Mexico.
Also on the cult show was Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Nicole Jaffe as Velma, Don Messick as Scooby-Doo and Frank Welker as Fred.
North also starred in several movies.
In 1965, she played Elaine in the family drama Git! and two years later she had a role in The Fugitive.
Also on the show was Casey Kasem as Shaggy, Nicole Jaffe as Velma, Don Messick as Scooby-Doo and Frank Welker as Fred
North didn't venture far from Hollywood, having been born in December 13, 1945 in Pasadena, California.
She played Kurt Russell's romantic partner in Disney's 1971 feature The Barefoot Executive.
That film was about a chimpanzee that could tell which TV shows would be a hit and which would not.
She also stood out in the beach movie Gidget.
North was married to H Wesley Kenney, after the pair met on the set of Days of Our Lives.
He was an Emmy winning soap opera director who died in January 2015.
The beauty was married to H Wesley Kenney, who died in January 2015. He was a Emmy winning soap opera director
The California native played Kurt Russell's romantic partner in Disney's 1971 feature The Barefoot Executive
That film was about a chimpanzee that could tell which TV shows would be a hit and which would not
North also starred on the TV shows Love American Style, Adam-12 and Days Of Our Lives.
She passed away on November 30 surrounded by family, her friend Jodie Mann told The Hollywood Reporter.
She is 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.
Another stepdaughter, Kara, died just a week ago.
A memorial service is set for 11.30am on Wednesday at First Christian Church in Studio City.
HEATHER North best known as the voice of Daphne in classic cartoon Scooby Doo has died at the age of 71.
The actress died last month at her home in Los Angeles following a long illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Getty - Contributor Heather North died at her Los Angeles home last month
Heather had been the voice of the beloved cartoon character for 33 years as well as appearing in Days of Our Lives, The Barefoot Executive and The Fugitive.
The actress first brought danger magnet Daphne to life in 1970 appearing in incarnations of the cartoon up to 2003.
She had been married to Emmy-winning producer H. Wesley Kenney who died in 2015.
Heather is survived by son Kevin, stepson Wes and granddaughter Jocelyn.
The actress had been the voice of Scooby Doo's Daphne for 33 years
Heather had played danger magnet Daphne up until 2003
Heather North talks about being the voice of Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo
Fans have taken to social media to pay tribute to the star.
One said: "R.I.P Heather North. Thank You for voicing a character for a cartoon that defined my childhood."
Another added: "Just read that Heather North, who voiced Daphne in Scooby doo has passed away. Truly sad news, R.I.P."
A third said: "Heather North, the longtime voice actress of Daphne from #ScoobyDoo, has reportedly died. Thanks for teaching me '70s slang, Daph."
A memorial service will be held in Studio City, LA, on Wednesday morning.
Heather North stars as the voice of Daphne Blake from Scooby-Doo
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Heather North, an actress best known as the voice of Daphne on the original classic animated series, Scooby Doo, Where Are You! has died. She was 71. Family friend Jodie Mann told Deadline that North died November 30 at her Studio City home after a long illness.
North began lending her voice to the character of Daphne Blake, one of two female sleuths of Mystery Incorporated in the Scooby-Doo series, in 1970. She continued to voice the character in various TV specials with the Scooby-Doo gang.
In addition, North starred in Disney’s 1971 pic The Barefoot Executive opposite Kurt Russell. She played his love interest in a movie that followed an ambitious mailroom clerk and a chimpanzee who can predict which TV shows will be a success on the air.
She also appeared on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives for several years. It is on the set of the soap where she met her husband, H. Wesley Kenney. He was an the Emmy-winning producer and director of soap operas who also helmed the 1974-75 season of the progressive series All in the Family. He died in January 2015.
North’s other credits include the feature Git! as well as episodes of such classic TV series as Green Acres, The Monkees, The Fugitive, Gidget, Adam-12 and My Three Sons. She also appeared briefly on Broadway with Marjorie Lord and Alan Young in the 1967 play The Girl in the Freudian Slip.
She is survived by her son, Kevin; daughter-in-law, Stephanie; a stepdaughter, Nina; a stepson, Wes Kenney; their spouses; six step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren.
