Voice Of The Little Mermaid's Ursula Pat Carroll Dies Aged 95

Pat Carroll, who voiced Ursula in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, has died aged 95.

The actor, who was well-known for her iconic villainous voice acting skills in the 1989 film, tragically died on Saturday in Cape Cod, Massachusetts during her recovery from pneumonia.

Her representative, Derek Maki, confirmed Carroll’s death in PEOPLE, stating that she passed away with her best friend by her side.

The statement read: "We sadly confirm the passing of Ms. Pat Carroll who died peacefully at home with her best friend by her side in the early morning.”

Carroll was born on 5 May 1927 in Shreveport, Louisiana, before she moved with her family to Los Angeles when she was five.

From then on, Carroll found her love of acting during local productions at a young age, and went on to land her first major role in the 1947 film, Hometown Girl.

She went on to work on a slew of variety shows across the subsequent three decades, before earning an Emmy Award in 1956 for her role in Sid Caesar’s House.

The actor also flexed her comedy skills during regular roles in sitcoms like Make Room for Daddy, The Jimmy Durante Show, The Danny Thomas Show, Too Close for Comfort and She’s the Sheriff.

Her other major roles included The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, Designing Women and ER, as well as leading game shows like To Tell the Truth, The Match Game, I’ve Got a Secret, You Don’t Say and The $10,000 Pyramid.

The actor also garnered critical acclaim for her performance as Gertrude Stein in her very own one-woman theatre show, while the filmed version of the show landed Carroll a Grammy Award in 1980 for best-spoken word documentary or drama.

During her perhaps best-known role as Ursula, the actor also sang the hit song ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’, having fulfilled ‘a lifelong ambition’ for herself with the role in the Disney movie.

She previously told author Allan Neuwirth in Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies: "It was a lifelong ambition of mine to do a Disney film.

"So, I was their hook, line and sinker."

The actor also attended the Catholic University of America, as well as enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Carroll leaves behind her two daughters Kerry Karsian and Tara Karsian and her granddaughter, Evan Karsian-McCormick.

Her daughter Tara took to Instagram to announce the sad news, writing: "It is with a heavy heart that I write that my mother, Pat Carroll, has passed away at the grand old age of 95. We ask that you honor her by having a raucous laugh at absolutely anything today (and everyday forward) because besides her brilliant talent and love, she leaves my sister Kerry and I with the greatest gift of all, imbuing us with humor and the ability to laugh…even in the saddest of times.

"Someone (apologies as I’ve forgotten who) sent me this meme a while ago. Truer words were never written and this is how we'll always remember her."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677