Friday, January 22, 2016

Walt Disney

This article is about Walt Disney, the person. For the company he founded, see The Walt Disney Company. For other uses, see Walt Disney (disambiguation).
Walt Disney
Walt Disney 1946.JPG
Disney in 1946
BornWalter Elias Disney
December 5, 1901
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 1966 (aged 65)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Cause of deathLung cancer
Resting placeGlendale, California, U.S.
ResidenceBurbank, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationMcKinley High School, Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
OccupationCo-founder of The Walt Disney Company
Years active1920–1966
Political partyRepublican
Board member ofThe Walt Disney Company
ReligionCongregationalist[1][2]
Spouse(s)Lillian Bounds
(m. 1925–1966; his death)
Children
Parent(s)Elias Disney
Flora Call Disney
Relatives
AwardsEmmy Awards
22 Academy Awards
Cecil B. DeMille Award
Signature
Walt Disney 1942 signature.svg
Walter Elias "WaltDisney (/ˈdɪzni/;[3] December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American entrepreneur,cartoonistanimatorvoice actor, and film producer. He was a prominent figure within the American animation industryand throughout the world, and is regarded as a cultural icon,[4] known for his influence and contributions toentertainment during the 20th century. As a Hollywood business mogul, he and his brother Roy O. Disney co-foundedThe Walt Disney Company.[5]
As an animator and entrepreneur, Disney was particularly noted as a filmmaker and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created numerous famous fictional characters includingMickey MouseDonald Duck, and Goofy. Disney himself was the original voice for Mickey. During his lifetime, he won 22 Academy Awards and received four honorary Academy Awards from a total of 59 nominations, including a record of four in one year,[6] giving him more Oscar awards and nominations than any other individual in history. Disney also won seven Emmy Awards and gave his name to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the U.S., as well as the international resorts Tokyo Disney ResortDisneyland ParisHong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disney Resort.
Disney died from lung cancer on December 15, 1966 in Burbank, California. He left behind a vast legacy, including numerous animated shorts and feature films produced during his lifetime; the company, parks, and animation studiothat bear his name; and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).