Walt Disney

Walt Disney - T V & Movie Producers, Timeline and Childhood

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Walt Disney Biography Stories 

Walt Disney's Personal Details

Walt Disney was one of the most prolific and innovative creators that the world of animation can boast of

InformationDetail
BirthdayDecember 5, 1901
Died onDecember 15, 1966
NationalityAmerican
FamousPoorly Educated, School Dropouts, Business People, Film & Theater Personalities, T V & Movie Producers, Voice Actors
City/StateIllinois
SpousesLillian Bounds (1925–66)
SiblingsHerbert Arthur Disney, Raymond Arnold Disney, Roy Oliver Disney, Ruth Flora Disney
Known asWalter Elias Disney
ChildrensDiane Marie Disney, Sharon Mae Disney
Universities
  • Benton Grammar School
  • Kansas City Art Institute
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Founder / Co-Founder
  • The Walt Disney Company
Cause of death
  • Cancer
Birth PlaceChicago
Political IdeologyRepublican
ReligionChristian (Congregationalist)
GenderMale
FatherElias Disney
MotherFlora Call Disney
Net Worth$5 billion
Sun SignSagittarius
Born inChicago
Died at Age65

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Walt Disney's photo

Who is Walt Disney?

Walt Disney was a showman in the truest sense of the word. A pioneering force in the world of animation, he transformed the entertainment industry completely, with his innovative ideas and creative visions. In his over four-decade long career, he changed the way the world looked at animation and was solely responsible for ushering the golden age of animation. Starting off as a mere animator, he soon turned into a business magnate, eventually becoming a major figure in the American animation industry. He co-founded the Walt Disney Production, along with his brother, which went on to become one of the best motion picture producers of the world. The cartoon characters that we love to see today, such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, are all the brainchild of this artistic inventor. In addition to his contribution in the field of animation, he was the mastermind behind the conceptualization and final formulation of Disneyland, an innovative theme park for children and adults alike. Till date, no other person has singularly contributed to the animation industry as Walt Disney has. To know more about his life and profile, read on.

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Childhood & Early Life

Walter Elias ‘Walt’ Disney was born to Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney. His father was an Irish-Canadian by descent and his mother was a German-American. He had four siblings, three brothers and a sister.

At the age of four, he shifted base to Marceline, Missouri, with his family. It was here that he developed his life-long fascination for drawing and painting.

The family moved to Kansas City in 1911 where he received his early education. Walter Pfeiffer, theatre aficionado, became an early guiding light for him as he introduced young Disney to a world of vaudeville and motion pictures.

Moving to Chicago in 1917, he enrolled himself at the McKinley High School. At night, he used to attend course at the Chicago Art Institute. He worked as a cartoonist for his school newspaper.

Soon, he dropped out of school to join the Army but was rejected because he was underage. He then served as the driver of an ambulance for Red Cross.

Career

Moving back to Kansas City in 1919, started working at the Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio, as ad-writer. It was there that he met Ubbe Iwerks.

In 1920, he found employment with Kansas City Film Ad Company. His profile included making commercials from cutout animations. He developed an interest in animation and decided to become an animator.

However, finding true interest in cel animation, he left the company to start his own business venture. He offered employment to Fred Harman, who was his colleague at Kansas City Film Ad Company.

He entered into a business deal with a local theatre owner, Frank L Newman to screen the cartoons which he named, Laugh-o-Grams. The popularity of the cartoons led to the opening of Laugh-o-Grams studio. However, financial debt caused the closure of the studio in 1923.

Impervious to the bankruptcy, he aimed to set up a studio in California. Together with his brother Roy, and Iwerks, he opened Disney Brother’s Studio.

They entered into a distribution deal with New York distributor Margaret Winkler for Walt's 'Alice Comedies', an animated shorts based upon ‘Alice's Wonderland’. They invented a character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for which they contracted the shorts at $1,500 each.

In 1925, he recruited ink-and-paint artist Lillian Bound, little knowing then that the two would become lifelong partners.

The dream-run for Disney ended in 1928 when he realized that Universal Pictures had bought the trademark for Oswald and that most of his creative designers, except Iwerk, had forsaken him for the Universal Pictures.

Together with Iwerk, he worked on creating a new character, based on his pet mouse which he adopted during the Laugh-o-Gram days. The final touches to the sketch gave the world of animation a new character in Mickey Mouse.

While the first two animated shorts did not bring Mickey Mouse much fame due to them being silent movies, the third short, was sound and music equipped became an instant success and created a sensation. Walt gave his voice for Mickey.

After the supper success of Mickey’s third short, Streamboat Willie, he launched sound in all of his subsequent cartoons.

In 1929, he released a series of musical shorts, titled ‘Silly Symphonies’, which featured Mickey’s friends, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Mickey’s girlfriend Minnie Mouse.

In 1933, he created his most memorable cartoon short, ‘The Three Little Pigs’. The cartoon was a big hit and garnered positive reviews. Furthermore, its anthem song, ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf’ became an iconic number during the Great Depression.

In 1935, he created history by launching ‘Flowers and Trees’, then one of the most popular cartoon shorts, in color. For the same, he was bestowed with the prestigious Academy Award.

In 1934, he planned to come up with a full-length animation feature. People deemed it to be ‘Disney’s Folly’ and the mark of his downfall. His wife and brother even encouraged in talking him out of the project but in vain.

After a successful training schedule, his high-profile leap of a feature film titled, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, went into production in 1934. After three years, the film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles.

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ opened to public in February 1938. The film was a blockbuster at the box office and went on to become the most successful film of 1938. In its initial release, the film had grossed $8 million.

The grand success of Snow White not only catapulted the position of Disney in the world of animation but also brought about an era, which later was given the name as the Golden Age of Animation.

Following the success of his first film, he started working on several others, including, ‘Pinnochio’, ‘Fantasia’, ‘Dumbo’ and ‘Bambi’. Simultaneously, the short staff continued to work on the characters of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto cartoon series

In 1939, he opened the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. However, two years later, a strike by Disney Animators resulted in heavy losses for the studio as many of the animators resigned from work.

By 1950s, after stabilizing the financial condition of Walt Disney Studios, he started focussing again on feature films. The first to release was ‘Cinderella’ in 1950, which was followed by ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Peter Pan’, ‘Treasure Island’, ‘Lady in the Tramp’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘101 Dalmatians’.

A visit to Children’s fairyland in Oakland inspired him for the concept of Disneyland. After five years of immense planning, projecting, fund raising and execution, the grand opening of Disneyland Theme Park took place on July 17, 1955. The park primarily gave children and families to explore the world of fantasy.

Major Works

He gave the world of animation a new ideology to work on and is believed to be responsible for the Golden Age of Animation. Most of the cartoon characters that we reckon today, Micky Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and so on are the brain-child of this international icon, who became a major figure in the American animation industry in 20th century. Disneyland, the most popular theme park of the world, was also conceptualized and created by him.

Awards & Achievements

He received four honorary Academy Awards and twenty-two Academy Awards in his life for his distinguished works.

He was the proud recipient of seven Emmy awards.

Personal Life & Legacy

He married Lillian Bound in 1925. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Diane Marie Disney in 1933. They adopted Sharon Mae Disney in 1936.

He died on December 15, 1966 due to lung cancer. Two days later, he was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

Trivia

The Disneyland theme park located in US is the brainchild of this creative genius, who created ripples in the world of animation with his futuristic vision and immense ingenuity.

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Walt Disney's awards

YearNameAward

Academy Awards(Oscars)

1969Best Short Subject, CartoonsWinnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)
1959Best Short Subject, Live Action SubjectsGrand Canyon (1958)
1956Best Documentary, Short SubjectsMen Against the Arctic (1955)
1955Best Documentary, FeaturesThe Vanishing Prairie (1954)
1954Best Short Subject, CartoonsToot Whistle Plunk and Boom (1953)
1954Best Short Subject, Two-reelBear Country (1953)
1954Best Documentary, Short SubjectsThe Alaskan Eskimo (1953)
1954Best Documentary, FeaturesThe Living Desert (1953)
1953Best Short Subject, Two-reelWater Birds (1952)
1952Best Short Subject, Two-reelNature's Half Acre (1951)
1951Best Short Subject, Two-reelBeaver Valley (1950)
1949Best Short Subject, Two-reelSeal Island (1948)
1943Best Short Subject, CartoonsDer Fuehrer's Face (1942)
1942Best Short Subject, CartoonsLend a Paw (1941)
1940Best Short Subject, CartoonsUgly Duckling (1939)
1939Best Short Subject, CartoonsFerdinand the Bull (1938)
1938Best Short Subject, CartoonsThe Old Mill (1937)
1937Best Short Subject, CartoonsThe Country Cousin (1936)
1936Best Short Subject, CartoonsThree Orphan Kittens (1935)
1935Best Short Subject, CartoonsThe Tortoise and the Hare (1935)
1934Best Short Subject, CartoonsThree Little Pigs (1933)
1932Best Short Subject, CartoonsFlowers and Trees (1932)

Primetime Emmy Awards

1956Best Producer - Film SeriesDisneyland (1954)

Walt Disney biography timelines

  • // 5th Dec 1901
    Walter Elias ‘Walt’ Disney was born to Elias Disney and Flora Call Disney. His father was an Irish-Canadian by descent and his mother was a German-American. He had four siblings, three brothers and a sister.
  • // 1911
    The family moved to Kansas City in 1911 where he received his early education. Walter Pfeiffer, theatre aficionado, became an early guiding light for him as he introduced young Disney to a world of vaudeville and motion pictures.
  • // 1917
    Moving to Chicago in 1917, he enrolled himself at the McKinley High School. At night, he used to attend course at the Chicago Art Institute. He worked as a cartoonist for his school newspaper.
  • // 1919
    Moving back to Kansas City in 1919, started working at the Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio, as ad-writer. It was there that he met Ubbe Iwerks.
  • // 1920
    In 1920, he found employment with Kansas City Film Ad Company. His profile included making commercials from cutout animations. He developed an interest in animation and decided to become an animator.
  • // 1923
    He entered into a business deal with a local theatre owner, Frank L Newman to screen the cartoons which he named, Laugh-o-Grams. The popularity of the cartoons led to the opening of Laugh-o-Grams studio. However, financial debt caused the closure of the studio in 1923.
  • // 1925
    In 1925, he recruited ink-and-paint artist Lillian Bound, little knowing then that the two would become lifelong partners.
  • // 1925
    He married Lillian Bound in 1925. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Diane Marie Disney in 1933. They adopted Sharon Mae Disney in 1936.
  • // 1928
    The dream-run for Disney ended in 1928 when he realized that Universal Pictures had bought the trademark for Oswald and that most of his creative designers, except Iwerk, had forsaken him for the Universal Pictures.
  • // 1929
    In 1929, he released a series of musical shorts, titled ‘Silly Symphonies’, which featured Mickey’s friends, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto and Mickey’s girlfriend Minnie Mouse.
  • // 1933
    In 1933, he created his most memorable cartoon short, ‘The Three Little Pigs’. The cartoon was a big hit and garnered positive reviews. Furthermore, its anthem song, ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf’ became an iconic number during the Great Depression.
  • // 1934
    In 1934, he planned to come up with a full-length animation feature. People deemed it to be ‘Disney’s Folly’ and the mark of his downfall. His wife and brother even encouraged in talking him out of the project but in vain.
  • // 1934
    After a successful training schedule, his high-profile leap of a feature film titled, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, went into production in 1934. After three years, the film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles.
  • // 1935
    In 1935, he created history by launching ‘Flowers and Trees’, then one of the most popular cartoon shorts, in color. For the same, he was bestowed with the prestigious Academy Award.
  • // 1938
    ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ opened to public in February 1938. The film was a blockbuster at the box office and went on to become the most successful film of 1938. In its initial release, the film had grossed $8 million.
  • // 1939
    In 1939, he opened the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. However, two years later, a strike by Disney Animators resulted in heavy losses for the studio as many of the animators resigned from work.
  • // 15th Dec 1966
    He died on December 15, 1966 due to lung cancer. Two days later, he was cremated and his ashes were interred at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

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Walt Disney's FAQ

  • What is Walt Disney birthday?

    Walt Disney was born at 1901-12-05

  • When was Walt Disney died?

    Walt Disney was died at 1966-12-15

  • Where was Walt Disney died?

    Walt Disney was died in Burbank

  • Which age was Walt Disney died?

    Walt Disney was died at age 65

  • Where is Walt Disney's birth place?

    Walt Disney was born in Chicago

  • What is Walt Disney nationalities?

    Walt Disney's nationalities is American

  • Who is Walt Disney spouses?

    Walt Disney's spouses is Lillian Bounds (1925–66)

  • Who is Walt Disney siblings?

    Walt Disney's siblings is Herbert Arthur Disney, Raymond Arnold Disney, Roy Oliver Disney, Ruth Flora Disney

  • Who is Walt Disney childrens?

    Walt Disney's childrens is Diane Marie Disney, Sharon Mae Disney

  • What was Walt Disney universities?

    Walt Disney studied at Benton Grammar School, Kansas City Art Institute, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

  • Which company or organization was founded by Walt Disney?

    Walt Disney was the founder/co-founder of The Walt Disney Company

  • What is Walt Disney's cause of dead?

    Walt Disney dead because of Cancer

  • What is Walt Disney's political ideology?

    Walt Disney's political ideology is Republican

  • What is Walt Disney's religion?

    Walt Disney's religion is Christian (Congregationalist)

  • Who is Walt Disney's father?

    Walt Disney's father is Elias Disney

  • Who is Walt Disney's mother?

    Walt Disney's mother is Flora Call Disney

  • What is Walt Disney's sun sign?

    Walt Disney is Sagittarius