'Babe', 'Dexter' Actress Christine Cavanaugh Dies at 51

Legendary cartoon voice, Christine Cavanaugh, passed away on 22 December at the age of 51.

Cavanaugh, who is the original voice of 'Babe' the pig and Dexter from 'Dexter's Laboratory', retired from voice acting in the year 2001. She also lent her voice to other cartoon characters, notable among them was 'Chuckie' – the red-headed baby from 'Rugrats'.

She also voiced characters from "Darkwing Duck," "Aladdin," "The Critic," "The Powerpuff Girls" and "The Wild Thornberrys."

The cause and other details regarding her death has not been released, however, her obituary was printed in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.

The voice actress had earlier suffered from CML or Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

"She was able to do incredible and amazing things with her voice and bring lots of smiles and many laughs to people who are now young adults," the Los Angeles Times obituary read.

Cavanaugh launched her career with Darkwing Duck, where she voiced the character Gosalyn Waddlemeyer-Mallard.

Growing up in the '90s, it's not possible you didn't hear her voice. She voiced 'Chuckie' from 1991-2003 and 'Dexter' from 1996-2003. 'Babe' was made in 1995.

Cavanaugh divorced her husband Kevin James Cavanaugh in 1985. The couple did not have any children. However, when she retired she stressed that she would now want to spend time and stay closer to her family. She moved from California to Utah after a career of almost two decades in the Hollywood.

Cavanaugh was the godmother to the daughter of a childhood friend.

After she retired, Nancy Cartwright replaced her character in 'Rugrats'. Cartwright is the voice of Bart Simpson in 'The Simpsons'.

According to USA Today, a memorial ceremony was organised at Antelope Island, off the Great Salt Lake in Utah. It was held there as Cavanaugh loved to visit the place with her father.

"Her imagination, humor, and intelligence were evident to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. Many know of her from the roles she played, but in each role there was a part of her showing through that the ones who truly knew her could see. The childlike awe of the world, humor to deal with the unpleasantness of reality, strength to deal with the challenges we all face, and intelligence to know when to act or accept what fate had allowed," the obituary further states.