Roy Disney
Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, who helped revitalize the Walt Disney Studio’s famed animation division and at times publicly feuded with top executives at the company, died on Wednesday at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., following a year-long battle with stomach cancer, according to a spokeswoman from the company. He was 79.
Mr. Disney served as a director emeritus and consultant to the company until his death. From 1984-2003, he held the post of vice chairman of the board of directors of the Walt Disney Company and chairman of the studio’s animation department. He resigned in 2003 citing “serious differences of opinion about the direction and style of management” and subsequently helped lead an investor uprising that culminated with the departure of Michael Eisner as chief executive and chairman.
“He was much more than a valued 56-year company veteran,” said Bob Iger, president and chief executive of the company. “Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology.”
Mr. Disney was born in Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 1930, to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle co-founded the company. As a child, Roy E. Disney would often play in the animation studio hallways, with animators using him as a test audience as they toiled on films like “Pinocchio.”