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Christine Cavanaugh, a Utah native who became a major star in the world of Hollywood voice acting, has died at the age of 51.
Cavanaugh died Dec. 22, in her home in Cedar City, her family confirmed to the Los Angeles Times, which published her obituary on Tuesday. No cause of death was disclosed.
The Iron County Sheriff's Office says that her death does not appear to be suicide, and investigators do not suspect any foul play. The results from her autopsy will take six to eight weeks, said sheriff's Sgt. Chuck Triplett.
Cavanaugh was known in Hollywood for the variety of her voice work. She was best known for giving voice to the title pig in the 1995 farm fable "Babe." She voiced the boy scientist Dexter on Cartoon Network's "Dexter's Laboratory," and neurotic toddler Chuckie Finster on Nickelodeon's "Rugrats."
When "Babe" was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Cavanaugh attended the 1996 Oscars ceremony carrying a jeweled pig-shaped pink handbag designed by Judith Leiber.
Cavanaugh was born Christine Josephine Sandberg, on Aug. 16, 1963, in Layton, Utah, to Waldo and Rheta Sandberg. She was raised by her "mamma" Margaret Sandberg. When Christine was 15, Margaret died, and Christine was taken in by Kirt and Linda Johnson, who she considered her parents for the rest of her life, according to a paid obituary written by her family.
Christine graduated from Layton High School in 1981, and attended Utah State University before transferring to the University of Hawaii. That's where she met her future husband, Keith James Cavanaugh. They married in 1985, and later divorced.
Cavanaugh's acting career began in 1988. Her big break came when she voiced the role of Gosalyn Waddlemeyer-Mallard on Disney's TV series "Darkwing Duck."
Her other voice credits included "The Critic," "Aaahh!!! Real Monsters" and "Sonic the Hedgehog." Her on-camera roles included guest spots on "ER," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Cheers," and a role in the 1996 movie "Jerry Maguire."
Cavanaugh retired from acting in 2001, and moved back to Utah to be closer to her family.
She is survived by her adopted father, Kirt Johnson, and his wife, Paula Thompson, in Cedar City; siblings Deionn Masock and Kirtis Johnson; six half-siblings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
According to her paid obituary, the family conducted a memorial-stone cemetery on Antelope Island, one of Cavanaugh's favorite places.
Reporter Michael McFall contributed to this story.