Heather North, voice of Daphne on 'Scooby-Doo' dead at 71

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Heather North, the actress best known for voicing Scooby-Doo character Daphne, has died at the age of 71.

North died on Nov. 30 at her home in Studio City, Los Angeles after dealing with a long illness, family friend Jodie Mann said to Deadline.

North first began voicing Daphne Blake in September 1970 on the second season opener of Scooby Doo, Where Are You!. She continued voicing the red-haired, second female member of the main cast through 2003.

North also appeared on other television shows such as Mr. Novak, Gidget, The Fugitive, The Monkees, My Three Sons and Adam-12.

She also portrayed Sandy Horton on NBC's Day of Our Lives where she met her husband, H. Wesley Kenney, an award-winning producer and director who helmed every episode of the 1974-1975 season of All in the Family. He died in 2015.

North starred in films Git!, I Love My Wife and opposite Kurt Russell in Disney's The Barefoot Executive. On Broadway, North appeared in Broadway play The Girl in the Freudian Slip.

North is survived by her son Kevin, daughter-in-law, Stephanie, stepdaughter Nina, stepson Wes Kenney, their spouses, six step-grandchildren and nine step-great-grandchildren.