Walt Disney
Born 1901 · Age 124
American animator, film producer, voice actor and entrepreneur; founder of the Walt Disney Company; pioneer of modern animation and theme parks.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Chicago, Illinois
Walter Elias Disney born at 1249 Tripp Avenue in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood.
Family moved to Marceline, Missouri
Disney family moved to a farm in Marceline where young Walt developed his interest in drawing and trains.
Family moved to Kansas City, Missouri
Disneys relocated to Kansas City; Walt began Saturday courses at the Kansas City Art Institute and a paper route.
Family moved back to Chicago (O-Zell jelly venture)
Elias Disney bought stock in O‑Zell jelly company and moved family back to Chicago; Walt attended McKinley High and Chicago Academy of Fine Arts night classes.
Joined Red Cross as ambulance driver (WWI)
After forging his birth date, Disney joined the American Red Cross and was shipped to France; arrived after the armistice and decorated his ambulance with cartoons.
Returned to Kansas City and began commercial art job
Returned from Europe and worked as an apprentice artist at Pesmen‑Rubin Commercial Art Studio, where he met Ub Iwerks.
Founded Iwerks–Disney Commercial Artists
After Pesmen‑Rubin laid off staff, Disney and Ub Iwerks started a commercial art business; the venture proved short‑lived.
Started Laugh‑O‑Grams / Laugh‑O‑Gram Studio
Produced short modernized fairy‑tale cartoons (Laugh‑O‑Grams) and later Alice's Wonderland (live action + animation). Hired animators including Iwerks.
Formed Disney Brothers Studio (later Walt Disney Company)
Walt and Roy Disney formally established Disney Brothers Studio in Hollywood; Roy focused on business affairs.
Signed distributor contract for Alice comedies
New York distributor Margaret J. Winkler signed a contract for six Alice comedies; Disney and brother Roy formed the Disney Brothers Studio to produce them.
Recruited Ub Iwerks to Hollywood studio
Ub Iwerks relocated from Kansas City to work again with Walt at the studio; critical creative partnership for early character development.
Married Lillian Bounds
Walt married Lillian Bounds (an ink artist he hired) in July 1925 in Lewiston, Idaho.
Official Hyperion Avenue studio established
First official Walt Disney Studio opened at 2725 Hyperion Avenue in Los Angeles (later demolished in 1940).
Created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
After moving away from Alice mixed live‑action/animation, Disney and Iwerks created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit for Universal distribution.
Released Steamboat Willie (Mickey's breakout)
Steamboat Willie (1928) used synchronized sound and became the first widely successful sound cartoon featuring Mickey Mouse; Walt also provided Mickey's voice in early years.
Oswald contract dispute—lost staff and rights
Contract dispute with distributor Charles Mintz led to Universal owning Oswald; most staff left except Ub Iwerks; a pivotal loss that pushed Disney to create a new character.
Test screenings of Plane Crazy (first Mickey)
Plane Crazy was the first Mickey Mouse test screening (silent); early attempt to introduce the new mouse character.
Launched Silly Symphonies; The Skeleton Dance
Started the Silly Symphonies series focused on music‑driven shorts; The Skeleton Dance (1929) was an early entry drawn by Iwerks.
Received Honorary Award for creation of Mickey Mouse
At the 1932 Oscars he received an Honorary Award 'for the creation of Mickey Mouse' alongside other short subject awards.
Flowers and Trees—first 3‑strip Technicolor cartoon
Disney produced Flowers and Trees in full‑color three‑strip Technicolor; it won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon). Disney had exclusive rights to the process until Aug 31, 1935.
The Three Little Pigs—major popular success
The Three Little Pigs (1933) became a cultural sensation and won the Academy Award for best short animation, prompting studio expansion to ~200 staff.
Decision to produce feature‑length animation (Snow White)
Disney committed the studio to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first American feature‑length animated film—a major strategic pivot.
Received Honorary Academy Award for Snow White
Following Snow White's success Disney received a special Honorary Academy Award (a full‑sized Oscar and seven miniature statuettes) recognizing the achievement.
Developed multiplane camera and The Old Mill
Studio developed the multiplane camera to create depth in animation; The Old Mill (1937) demonstrated the effect and won an Academy Award for Animated Short Film.
Premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White premiered Dec 1937; it cost about $1.5 million to produce and became the highest‑grossing sound film by May 1939 with $6.5 million gross to that date.
Released Pinocchio and Fantasia (both 1940)
Both ambitious features released in 1940; they were critically praised but underperformed financially due to the European market collapse after WWII began.
Company's first public stock offering
To raise capital during a financial squeeze, Walt and Roy Disney initiated the company's first public stock offering in 1940.
Shifted political stance and public controversies
Disney moved from Democratic support toward the Republican Party (around 1940), engaged in anti‑communist activities including HUAC testimony (1947), and co‑founded the Motion Picture Alliance in 1946.
1941 Animators' Strike
A five‑week strike by animators over pay and recognition produced long‑term strain between Walt and many staff; several animators left afterward.
Released Dumbo
Dumbo (1941) produced simply and inexpensively in response to financial pressures; it received a positive audience and critical reaction.
Released Bambi (underperformed)
Bambi (1942), in production since 1937, underperformed and reportedly lost about $200,000 at the box office.
Produced wartime & propaganda films (Der Fuehrer's Face)
During WWII Disney produced training and propaganda films; Der Fuehrer's Face won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
Company debts with Bank of America ($4M)
By 1944 the company had debts of approximately $4 million with Bank of America; A. P. Giannini advised executives to give the studio time to market its films.
Launched True‑Life Adventures (Seal Island)
Disney initiated popular live‑action nature films; Seal Island (first) won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Two‑Reel).
Moved to Holmby Hills and created Carolwood Pacific Railroad
The Disney family moved to Holmby Hills (1949). Walt built a backyard miniature live‑steam railroad (Carolwood Pacific) and locomotive Lilly Belle, later put into storage after accidents.
Married Lillian Bounds (1925) and family milestones
Walt married Lillian Bounds in July 1925; daughters Diane (born Dec 1933) and Sharon (adopted Dec 1936) shaped his personal life and privacy choices.
Released Cinderella (1950)
Cinderella cost approximately $2.2 million to produce and earned nearly $8 million in its first year, re‑establishing the studio financially.
First fully live‑action feature: Treasure Island
Disney produced Treasure Island (1950), his first entirely live‑action feature, expanding the studio's live‑action production interests.
Formed WED Enterprises (later Walt Disney Imagineering)
To design and plan the theme park (and distance it from the studio), Disney formed WED Enterprises to lead creative work by the 'Imagineers'.
Received zoning permission for theme park (Burbank)
Disney received initial zoning permission to build a theme park in Burbank, later deemed too small—spurring search for a larger Anaheim site.
Started construction of Disneyland (Anaheim)
Construction of the new themed park began in July 1954 on the Anaheim site after assembling financing including bank funding and ABC as an investor/sponsor.
Premiered TV series 'Walt Disney's Disneyland' on ABC
ABC broadcast Walt Disney's Disneyland anthology (1954), which was tied to funding Disneyland; the show earned high ratings and provided cross‑promotion.
Released 'Man in Space' episode (NASA collaboration)
Disney's Disneyland produced 'Man in Space' in collaboration with Wernher von Braun—demonstrating studio's engagement with science and corporate partners.
Launched 'The Mickey Mouse Club' and merchandising push
The Mickey Mouse Club debuted as a daily TV program for children; merchandise tie‑ins and record sales expanded revenue streams (e.g., Davy Crockett craze).
Founded Disneyland Records
Following the popularity of TV segments and Davy Crockett, Disney formed a record production/distribution arm to monetize music and tie‑ins.
Opened Disneyland in Anaheim
Disneyland officially opened July 17, 1955; opening ceremony broadcast on ABC reached ~70 million viewers. After one month the park saw >20,000 visitors/day; first year attendance ~3.6 million.
Company went public (IPO noted in sources)
The Walt Disney Company became publicly listed (mid‑late 1950s era IPO mentioned in sources); this shifted ownership away from the Disney family over subsequent decades.
Sleeping Beauty released (1959)
Sleeping Beauty (1959) was produced in Technirama 70mm and represented a major technical and artistic undertaking.
Consultant to American National Exhibition in Moscow
Disney was a consultant for the 1959 Moscow Fair; the studio produced 'America the Beautiful' for the Circarama theater—one of the fair's popular attractions.
Chairman of Pageantry Committee for Squaw Valley Winter Olympics
Disney chaired the Pageantry Committee, designing opening/closing/medal ceremonies for the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Investor in Celebrity Sports Center (opened 1960)
One of twelve investors in the Celebrity Sports Center (Glendale, Colorado); Walt and Roy bought out other investors in 1962 to make Disney the sole owner.
Released One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
101 Dalmatians (1961) pioneered the Xerox process in animation to cut costs and speed production, achieving box office success.
Involved in CalArts expansion plans
Disney became involved in plans to expand the California Institute of the Arts and had blueprints drawn for new facilities.
Contributed exhibits to 1964 New York World's Fair
Disney provided four major exhibits (It's a Small World, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, Ford's Magic Skyway) with corporate sponsorship; elements later reinstalled in parks.
Produced Mary Poppins (1964)
Mary Poppins became Disney's most successful film of the 1960s and received five Academy Awards; he had tried to acquire rights since the 1940s.
Publicly announced Walt Disney World and EPCOT plans
On Nov 15, 1965 Disney announced plans for Walt Disney World near Orlando and the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT).
Story credit as 'Retlaw Yensid' for Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
Disney received a story credit (as his name backwards, Retlaw Yensid) for the 1966 film Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
Diagnosed with lung cancer
Disney, a long‑time heavy smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in early November 1966 and treated with cobalt therapy.
Hospitalized at St. Joseph's Hospital (Burbank)
Disney felt unwell and was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital on Nov 30, 1966, near the studio in Burbank.
Death from lung cancer
Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966 of circulatory collapse caused by lung cancer; he was cremated two days later and ashes interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Posthumous releases and awards
The Jungle Book and The Happiest Millionaire were released in 1967 (raising Walt's film count to 81); Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) earned an Academy Award posthumously for Walt.
Roy O. Disney dedicates Walt Disney World
Roy deferred retirement and dedicated Walt Disney World to his brother at the inauguration in 1971; EPCOT was later refocused as a permanent world's‑fair style park.
Walt Disney Family Museum opened
The Walt Disney Family Museum opened in the Presidio of San Francisco (designed by daughter Diane and grandson Walter E.D. Miller), showcasing thousands of artifacts and awards.
Key Achievement Ages
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