Disney Legend Burny Mattinson on Legends Plaza at The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California, on a sunlit day. He smiles and is wearing a light blue T-shirt underneath a black jacket. His gray moustache and light beard frame his lower face.

The Legacy of Burny Mattinson

At the beginning of his career, Burney Mattinson worked directly with several Disney Legends and members of the Studios’ core group of early animators—dubbed the “Nine Old Men” by Walt Disney—including Marc Davis, Eric Larson, and Ollie Johnston.

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Tommy Kirk

Remembering Disney Legend Tommy Kirk

Tommy Kirk, the beloved and iconic star of such Disney family favorites from the 1950s and 1960s as Old Yeller, The Shaggy Dog, Swiss Family Robinson, and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, September 28, at the age of 79. Kirk was named a Disney …

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kenny ortega

Legendary Handprints—Kenny Ortega

Kenny Ortega first began designing dances on the small screen, choreographing music videos for Olivia Newton-John and Madonna and quickly moved on to bigger productions. In 1980, he choreographed the dance sequences for the musical film Xanadu, working with legendary dancer and director Gene Kelly. He continued choreographing such hits as St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), …

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Jim Cora

Remembering Jim Cora

By The D23 Team Disney Legend Jim Cora, who joined Disneyland Park as an attractions host in 1957 and retired as chairman of Disney International 43 years later, passed away Sunday after a brief hospitalization. He was 83. “Very few people have a Disney legacy that reaches as far and wide as Jim Cora,” said …

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Robin Roberts

Pride Month Spotlight: Legendary Handprints – Robin Roberts

In 1990, Robin Roberts joined ESPN—the first female African American sports journalist for the network—and within five years was also a regular contributor to Good Morning America (GMA). In her 15 years at ESPN, she contributed to NFL PrimeTime, and hosted SportsCenter and In the Game with Robin Roberts. In 2005, Robin joined GMA full time as co-anchor. Since she joined the …

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Charles Boyer

Remembering Charles Boyer

Disney Legend Charles Boyer, who accepted a “temporary” job at Disneyland as a portrait sketch artist in fall 1960 and remained there for 39 years, passed away on February 8, 2021 in Ontario, California. He is survived by two children, Bruce and Naomi. His wife, Ellen, preceded him in death. Boyer had the unique distinction …

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