Samuel E. Wright, who was known for being the voice actor of Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, has sadly passed away aged 74.
Wright brought joy to countless people - both adults and children alike - after lending his voice to Sebastian, the animated crab who lived under the sea.
Following the success of his original portrayal in 1989, the actor went on to reprise the role for The Little Mermaid TV series, the direct-to-video Little Mermaid 2, and the House of Mouse short collection.
The voice actor also sang two of the original movie's most iconic songs: 'Under the Sea' and 'Kiss the Girl'. The composers of both songs, Alan Menken and Howard Ashman respectively, were nominated for Academy Awards following the movie's release.
Ultimately, the composer of 'Under the Sea' walked away with the gong.
The official Facebook page for Montgomery, New York, where he lived, shared news of Wright's passing on Tuesday.
As part of the lengthy tribute, it read: "Today, the Town of Montgomery mourns the loss of Sam Wright. Pictured here with Town Supervisor Brian Maher and his brother Patrick in Walden in the early 1990's.
"Sam was an inspiration to us all and along with his family established the Hudson Valley Conservatory. Sam and his family have impacted countless Hudson Valley youth always inspiring them to reach higher and dig deeper to become the best version of themselves."
It continued: "On top of his passion for the arts and his love for his family, Sam was most known for walking into a room and simply providing PURE JOY to those he interacted with. He loved to entertain, he loved to make people smile and laugh and he loved to love.
"The greater Town of Montgomery Community mourns together today. As we say goodbye to a pillar in our community and ask everyone to share a memory and help us celebrate the life of this great man."
Wright's previous acting credits include performances on sitcoms like The Cosby Show and All My Children.
He was also celebrated for his work on the stage, having originated the role of Mufasa in the legendary musical The Lion King. Other musicals Wright appeared in include Jesus Christ Superstar and Pippin.
Unsurprisingly, tributes for the late performer have been pouring in online:
Our thoughts are with Wright's family at this difficult time.