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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bob gurr

Legendary Handprints—Bob Gurr

Imagineer Bob Gurr has always been a man on the move. And, for almost 40 years, he helped move many a happy Disney theme park guest aboard vehicles and ride conveyances of his own design. As he’s often quipped, “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it.” And he certainly has. Bob …

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Howard Ashman

Pride Month Spotlight: Legendary Handprints—Howard Ashman

Producer, lyricist, and Disney Legend Howard Ashman made a huge “splash” in the world of popular culture in 1989 with The Little Mermaid, which he also co-produced. His song “Under the Sea,” co-written with composer and Disney Legend Alan Menken, won an Oscar® that year for Best Song. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 17, 1950, the …

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Elton John

Pride Month Spotlight: Legendary Handprints—Sir Elton John

The monumental career of singer, songwriter, and performer Sir Elton John has made him one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with more than 200 million records sold worldwide. Winning a wide array of industry awards including Grammys®, Tonys®, and an Oscar®, Elton continues to add to his personal repertoire of 35 gold …

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Tyrus Wong

Legendary Handprints – Tyrus Wong

While Tyrus “Ty” Wong worked at The Walt Disney Studios for only three years, between 1938 and 1941, his impact on the animated classic Bambi endures. As legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston point out in their book about the making of the motion picture, “He set the color schemes along with the appearance …

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Lea Salonga

Legendary Handprints – Lea Salonga

In the field of musical theatre, Lea Salonga has been honored with the Olivier, Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards. In addition, she holds the distinction of having performed the vocal roles of two Disney leading ladies—the spectacular singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan. Lea’s breakthrough came on the West …

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Wing T. Chao

Legendary Handprints – Wing T. Chao

For 37 years at Disney, Wing T. Chao played a vital role in designing and developing exceptional and inspiring projects at Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. Wing served as Vice Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts for Asia Pacific Development, as well as Executive Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering, where he oversaw master …

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Hideo Amemiya

Legendary Handprints – Hideo Amemiya

“Life is a journey, not a destination,” said Hideo Amemiya, a 30-year cast member and one of Disneyland’s most distinguished senior leaders. Born in Tokyo on September 4, 1944, Hideo graduated from Rikkyo University in Tokyo with a bachelor’s degree in social science, and from the University of Massachusetts, with a bachelor’s degree in hotel …

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Muppets

5 Disney Legends Who Guest Starred on The Muppet Show

By Zach Johnson At last, Disney Legend Jim Henson’s treasured variety series The Muppet Show will be available to stream on Disney+, today. In addition to the first three seasons, fans will also get to enjoy seasons four and five, which were never released on home entertainment. The Muppet Show, which premiered in 1976, stars …

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alan menken

Congratulations to Alan Menken—EGOT… and LEGOT!

By Beth Deitchman Yesterday, Disney Legend Alan Menken joined not one but two very elite clubs: He is now an “EGOT”—a winner of an Emmy®, Grammy®, Oscar®, and Tony®—and he is also a “LEGOT,” having also received the Disney Legends Award in 2001. Only 16 people have achieved EGOT status over the years, but the …

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ruthie tompson

Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson Celebrates 110 Magical Years

By Jeffrey Epstein On July 22, Disney Legend Ruthie Tompson turns 110, and the birthday celebration is already underway. At the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) campus where Ruthie resides, the staff has decorated the halls where she lives with her two favorite things: Disney and the Dodgers. “She is very excited to celebrate!” …

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Ink and Paint, Walt Disney Studios

At the Helm of Ink & Paint

By Julia Vargas, Walt Disney Archives The Ink & Paint Department at the Disney studio was an epicenter of artistry and innovation. In 1932, Grace Bailey came to Disney for a tryout when she found out they were looking for artists. She was put in charge of Paint during production of the Silly Symphony series when the studio was moving away from black- and- white pictures to vibrant …

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Joyce Carlson with posing with a remarkably similar “it’s a small world” doll.

From Ink and Paint to Imagineering: The Remarkable Career of Joyce Carlson

By Nicole Carroll, Walt Disney Archives Disney Legend Joyce Carlson began her impressive career with The Walt Disney Company in 1944, in the studio traffic department, where she was responsible for delivering mail and other items like pencils, brushes, or coffee to animators and artists. “Traffic was where you could get the lay of the …

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Disney Legends D23 Expo 2019

Every Magical Moment from the 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony

By Beth Deitchman This morning, the ultimate Disney fan event got off to the ultimate start as fans filled the 6,800-seat Hall D23 at D23 Expo 2019 for the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony, sharing in the excitement as 12 incredible visionaries and artists were honored for their significant contributions to the Disney legacy. The special …

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2019 Disney Legends

Meet the 2019 Disney Legends to Be Honored at D23 Expo

UPDATED JULY 8, 2019 By D23 Team At every D23 Expo, we gather together to celebrate a new class of Disney Legends. The Disney Legends Awards ceremony—just one of the highlights of the ultimate Disney fan event—has honored many of Disney’s brightest stars and notable luminaries, starting with Fred MacMurray in 1987. Since then, The …

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Ron Logan

7 Spectacular Facts About Disney Legend Ron Logan

By Francesca Scrimgeour On Friday, October 19, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members are invited to Lunch with a Disney Legend: Ron Logan at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn conference center at Walt Disney World Resort. During the special event, guests can enjoy a three-course luncheon with Ron and ask him about his 23 years at Disney, where he …

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D23 Expo 2019

The D23 Expo 2019 Dates Are Here!

By D23 Team All the magic and excitement of the past, present, and future of Disney entertainment will come together once again when D23 presents D23 Expo 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of August 23–25. Each of Disney’s magical worlds—including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars—will unite under one roof to celebrate what’s …

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harriet burns

Disneyland’s First Female Imagineer Helped Create Your Favorite Attractions

By Jocelyn Buhlman When we think of classic Disneyland attractions, many minds wander to haunted houses, salty old pirates, and children of the world. One Imagineer had a hand in bringing all of them to life: Disney Legend Harriet Burns, the first woman ever hired by Walt Disney Imagineering in a creative capacity. A “Model” Imagineer …

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Disney Year in Review

Every Epic Disney Thing that Happened in 2017

By D23 Team As 2017 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of the most magical Disney memories from this past year. We experienced brand-new immersive attractions at Disney parks around the world, and we were thrilled by blockbuster feature debuts at multiplexes close to home. The last 12 …

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D23 2017 highlights

D23’s 2017 Year in Review

By D23 Team It’s been an exciting year to be a Disney fan, and an even more awesome year to be a D23 Member! Take a look at a few 2017 D23 highlights below––we’ll see you in the new year with even more magic! January: Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men After taking D23 Gold Members …

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D23 2017 Gold Member Gift: Walt Disney's Nine Old Men

Animation Artifacts: The Nine Old Men Take the Spotlight

By Jim Fanning Stars. They are meant to shine. And even when these bright lights are not necessarily noticed or significantly celebrated, their brilliance continues to sparkle. So it is with the true luminaries of animation as produced by Walt Disney, his top team of elite animators he affectionately nicknamed the Nine Old Men. This …

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Legendary Disney Imagineer Marty Sklar Dies At 83

Legendary Disney Imagineer Martin A. “Marty” Sklar passed away in his Hollywood Hills home on Thursday. He was 83. During an illustrious career spanning 54 years, Marty worked closely with Walt Disney and was instrumental in creating, enhancing and expanding Disney’s creative vision. Named a Disney Legend in 2001, he is best remembered and revered …

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D23 Expo 2017 show floor

9 Spectacular Spots on the D23 Expo Show Floor

By Courtney Potter Enter the bustling Anaheim Convention Center, and you’ll feel it. That special “something.” To say there’s excitement in the air is putting it mildly! A bevy of enchanting experiences await guests this weekend at D23 Expo 2017—and just hours ago, we got a special sneak peek of the Expo show floor… and …

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