The Walt Disney Company announced today that Roy E. Disney passed away at the age of 79.
Disney was the son of Roy Disney and nephew to Walt. Roy sat on the board of the Walt Disney and was a prominent shareholder. In the late 1980s, he resigned from the board and led a movement to have Walt’s son-in-law, Ron Miller, replaced as head of the company. The movement was successful and Michael Eisner assumed control along side Frank Wells. Wells died in 1994 and Eisner continued to run the company as Disney experienced a re-emergence as an innovative movie maker.
As the 21st century dawned, many Disney fans grew disgusted at Eisner’s leadership as they watched the company take a dive. Disney, too, did not approve of the direction the company was taking. He once again resigned from the board and led another movement. Once again, he was successful as the board voted not to support Eisner. He resigned and Bob Iger assumed control of the Walt Disney Company.
Iger issued this statement regarding Disney’s death: "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.”
Disney was a great champion of his uncle’s ideals and Pixar’s chief creative officer, John Lasseter, offers a fitting ode in his statement:
"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.”
RIP
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