Debi Austin Dies: California Woman Featured in 'Voicebox', Anti-Smoking Advocate Dies of Cancer at 62

Deborah "Debi" Austin, a California woman featured in anti-smoking ads who became a symbol of the anti-smoking movement died last week at the age of 62. She was best known for her public awareness television ad's in the mid 1990's, particularly her "Voicebox" ad.

Austin filmed television ad's after being diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and receiving a laryngectomy. Her raspy voice and a hole in her throat made her ad's unforgettable. According to her family she continued filming anti-smoking ad's up until dying Friday after battling cancer for two decades.

Austin was raised in the San Fernando Valley after being born in Illinois and started smoking as early as 12-years-old. By the time she attended college she would smoke two to three packs a day until she finally quit. Austin will forever be known for her influential role in the anti-smoking movement.

Despite receiving a laryngectomy resulting in a hole in her neck, Austin continued to smoke secretly, which she said was an example of just how far tobacco addiction can go.

On the state Department of Public Health's website, officials called Austin California's "most well-known anti-tobacco advocate" and that her most prominent advertisement "Voicebox" is "the most-recognized and talked about California tobacco control ad."

Dr. Ron Chapman, California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer, would go on to say, "Debi was a pioneer in the fight against tobacco and showed tremendous courage by sharing her story to educate Californians on the dangers of smoking. She was an inspiration for Californians to quit smoking and also influenced countless others not to start."

In recent years, Austin often traveled around the state to spread her anti-smoking message to young people, even continuing to make anti-smoking ads up until 2011. However, it was still Austin's ad where she smoked a cigarette through a surgical hole in her throat that made the biggest impact.