Roy Disney, Nephew Of Walt Disney, Dies

Roy E. Disney

I’m sad to say that earlier today, Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, died.  He was 79.  Roy, who lost his year long battle with stomach cancer early Wednesday in Newport Beach, CA, was an avid supported of Disney’s art of animation as well as the arts in general and played a powerful role behind the scenes of the Walt Disney Co.

Company president and chief executive Bob Iger said Disney was much more than a valued 56-year company veteran.

Company president and chief executive Bob Iger said in a statement, “Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future,” and Don Hahn, an executive producer at the Disney movie studio, praised Roy for ushering in a new era after taking over the animation department in 1984.  The two worked together creating several winners such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King.”

“He took it under his wing, was a cheerleader, a coach, therapist,” Hahn said.

John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, also commended Disney.

“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,” said Lasseter.

For those of you who may or may not remember, Roy played a pivotal role in the ousting of  two of The Walt Disney Company’s former chief executives.  In 1984, after deciding the company was being steered into the wrong direction, Roy Disney resigned from the company’s board or directors and led investors in a campaign against Walt Disne’y's son-in-law, Ron Miller.  After appointing the team of Michael Eisner and Frank Wells in charge, later becoming just Eisner (Wells passed away in 1994) and nearly 20 years later, Roy led shareholders in another revolt against Eisner which eventually forced him to step down giving way to Bob Iger.

Roy was described by friends and colleagues as a “gracious, humble gentleman” someone  who remained loyal to his principals and friends.  His legacy, despite never including a chance to run The Walt Disney Company himself, can be felt and seen within the company’s successes throughout the past 30 years.

An active philanthropist, Disney also supported the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, a school founded by his father and uncle, as well as pledged $10 million back in 2005 to establish the Roy and Patricia Disney Cancer Center at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank.

His absence will sorely be missed.