Marni Nixon, voice of Maria in West Side Story film, has passed away: https://t.co/iVXeTrhT1u pic.twitter.com/vDoJXvZWfR

— Playbill (@playbill) July 25, 2016

Marni Nixon, who gave voice to many iconic film roles inhabited visually by Hollywood actors, has died of breast cancer at 86. 

Nixon was Deborah Kerr's voice in both The King and I (1956) and An Affair to Remember (1957), Sophia Loren's voice in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), Natalie Wood's voice in West Side Story (1961) and Audrey Hepburn's voice in My Fair Lady (1964). In addition, Nixon provided memorable high notes for Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Wood in Gypsy (1962) and many others.

Along with her ghosting duties—which began in 1948—Nixon went on to a noteworthy career on the stage.