Hollywood icon Roy E(dward) Disney died 16 December 2009 of stomach cancer. Born 10 January 1930 in Los Angeles, California, he was the nephew of Walt Disney and son of Roy O. Disney, and the last member of the Disney family to work for the Walt Disney Company. Roy E. grew up in the halls of the Disney Studios, previewing animated films in their productions phases. He grew up to once again make animation a mainstay of his family’s company.
In 1952, Roy E. began his entertainment career as an assistant film editor on Dragnet. The following year, he joined the fmaily company, working on nature documentaries and writing for Zorro. In 1967, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the company. In 1977, he left the company to become an independent producer (although he retained his Board seat). His disagreements with the then-current CEO, Ronald W. Miller (Walt’s son-in-law), led to his departure, and agitation for Miller’s ouster. In 1984, MIller was forced out, and Roy returned to the company. He took over the once famous, but now failing, animation division, and reinvigorated it. He was the driving force behind Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Fantasia 2000 (the latter realizing his uncle’s vision half a century later).
Roy E. was often called the conscience of the Walt Disney Company, and was ardent in his defense of what he felt was the proper direction for the company. He resigned from the company for a second time in 2003, citing “serious differences of opinion about the direction and style of management” of the company. He pushed to oust then-CEO Michael Eisner, and succeeded in 2005. After Eisner’s departure, Roy E. became director emeritus of and a consultant for the company, which titles he held until his death.
As a guiding force at the Walt Disney Company, Roy E. Disney had a hand in many films and television shows. He was specifically credited in various roles on many, including the following genre productions: Fantasia 2000 (1999, executive producer), The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998, producer), Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue (1990, executive producer), The Black Cauldron (1985, writer), Disneyland (1957-76, producer, director, writer, production coordinator, and cinematographer), and Perri (1957, cinematographer).
He is survived by his second wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, as well as his first wife, Patricia Dailey Disney (they were married from 1955 to 2007), four children, and 16 grandchildren. Roy O. Disney was born in 1893 and died in 1971; Walt Disney was born in 1901 and died in 1966. The New York Times has a full obituary.