Roy Disney, Known as “Soul” of the Studio, Dies at 79

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By: Ramin Zahed

Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and longtime exec producer and senior exec at the Disney Studio passed away today (Wednesday, Dec. 16) in Newport beach, Calif. after a year-long battle with stomach cancer, reported the Associated Press.

"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," noted John Lasseter, Disney/Pxar’s chief creative officer, who first met Disney while a student at CalArts. “He was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form."

Disney was a champion of the company’s classic animation and helped bring about the first renaissance of traditional animation in the 1980sa nd 1990s by supporting the animation teams behind classics such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. He was also recognized widely as a powerful shareholder in the company who spearheaded two successful campaigns to oust company heads (his cousin-in-law Ron Miller and later on, Michael Eisner) who he believed were taking the company in the wrong direction.

Soft-spoken and unpretentious, Disney was also seen as the “soul” of the company by many insiders. “The thing that distinguishes [Disney] from everybody else, and always has and always will, is our past,” he once said “The goal is to look over our shoulder and see Snow White and Pinocchio and Dumbo standing there, saying, 'Be this good.' We shouldn't be intimidated by them; they're an arrow pointing someplace."

Disney grew up on his uncle’s now-classic retellings of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio. He also received a sound education in finance from his father Roy Sr., who oversaw Disney Co.'s business end. Upon graduating from Pomona College in 1951, the younger Disney followed his uncle and father into the entertainment industry, working as an editor, screenwriter and producer on a host of projects, from TV's Dragnet and Zorro to the Oscar-nominated film Mysteries of the Deep.

He would also later produce 2004's acclaimed Destino, using mid-century animation Salvador Dali created for Walt Disney Co., and Fantasia 2000, a sequel to his uncle's 1940 classic.

Disney, who also founded the private equity firm Shamrock Holdings, is survived by his wife, Leslie, four children from a previous marriage —Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney and Susan Disney Lord—and 16 grandchildren. Following private funeral services and cremation, Disney’s ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a memorial will also be announced soon.

Reader Comments

• Jim Wickey : Director : Vistavox Entertainment

  Thursday, December 17, 2009

  Roy was the link to the past, a very human reminder of the importance of story, character and Disney tradition. The fact that he was unwilling to bend the Disney name and legacy for pure financial gain is sterling tribute. If all of us in the Animation community could learn from the Disney integrity our industry would be that much richer. He will be missed. As for the future of Disney, thank God for John Lasseter.

• Wayne Sung :

  Thursday, December 17, 2009

  If it weren\'t for Roy we wouldn\'t have gotten Fantasia 2000. It goes to show how much Roy believed in his uncle\'s dreams, making them his own. I still remember how surprised I was at how much he looks like Walt. I hope he got to see the final version of Princess and the Frog before he passed. I would think he\'d approve.

• Tom Sito : animation director :

  Thursday, December 17, 2009

  In his softspoken way, Roy guided the animation dept into the 21st Century. His modest folksy demeanor masked a shrewd businessman, who masterminded two revolutions in upper management in 1984 and 2006. He was a billionaire who seemed genuinely in awe of creative people. It\\\'s rare to find a photo of him with us where he was not smiling. We animators loved him, and when he appeared at our Guild holiday party in 2005 he cheered him like a returning Caesar.
  Through his humility he repaired old feuds like the one between Art Babbit and the Disneys, something Art never forgot until his death in 1991.
  Roy didn\\\'t draw, but he could lead. And without him, we would have No Ariel, No Belle, No Roger, No Buzz, no Simba and no Tiana.
  See ya, Roy!

• Seymour :

  Thursday, December 17, 2009

  Roy didn\'t always have it easy at the company his dad and uncle founded but he persevered and was there to make a difference when it really counted.

• Ian James Corlett : poobah : Corlett Creative

  Thursday, December 17, 2009

  Roy did a great thing by standing his ground against the corporate weaseling of Eisner and Co. Eisner did some good things, but eventually ran the company to bean-counting mediocrity. (and you say, California Adventure anyone?)
  
  Roy fought them. And won.
  
  Great guy. His uncle would be proud. I\'m saddened to not be able to meet him now. He was on my list.

• Jonathan : none : none

  Saturday, December 19, 2009

  This is pretty sad. I liked Roy Disney. I learned alot from him about animation and about his Uncle. He really did a good job keeping his Uncle\'s legacy living on! I\'m glad that Roy Disney got rid of Michael Eisner because I think Michael Eisner didn\'t care about making good movies all he cared about was making good money! I always liked seeing Roy on the behind the scenes features on Disney DVDs. I liked it when the Magic Mirror called him Master on the Snow White 2001 DVD. That was pretty awesome! I also liked it when he hosted the 1994 release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs VHS and took us on a little behind the scenes of Pocahontas which came out to theaters the following year 1995. Roy you were a good man and really did a good job keeping your Uncle\'s Legacy living on! You and your Uncle Walt are both GENIUSES! Don\'t let anyone elese tell you or uncle different! May God and his son Jesus Christ take very good care of and your Uncle Walt ROY EDWARD DISNEY 1930-2009!

• shakeem winn : writer n artist : winn ltd.

  Tuesday, December 29, 2009

  The way you guys describe him makes i had known him.