Heather North, best known as the longtime voice of Daphne Blake on Hanna-Barbera’s Scooby-Doo series, passed away on Nov. 30 at her home in Studio City after a long illness, per The Hollywood Reporter. The actress, who also starred on Days of Our Lives and opposite Kurt Russell in Disney’s The Barefoot Executive, was 71.
North joined CBS/Hanna-Barbera’s Saturday morning toon Scooby Doo, Where Are You! as the voice of the beautiful red-headed snoop Daphne, during the second season of the show in September 1970. (Stefanianna Christopherson voiced the character during the first season of the show.) North then returned for The New Scooby-Doo Movies in 1972-73 and resumed her role in various incarnations of the comedy-mystery show, including The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour, Scooby-Doo Goes Hollywood, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Doo and The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo. Her last voice appearance as Daphne was for the 2003 video movie Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico. She also voiced Loni on Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1977-1980).
The actress’s live-action appearances included roles on TV shows such as Mr. Novak, Gidget, The Fugitive, The Monkees, My Three Sons and Adam-12, and movies such as Git! and I Love My Wife. A Pasadena native, North was married to Emmy-winning producer and director H. Wesley Kenney, who helmed every episode of the 974-75 season of All in the Family. Kenney passed away in January 2015.
Survivors include 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 11:30 a.m. this Wednesday (Dec. 20) at the First Christian Church in Studio City.
