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Walt Disney Biography

Birth Name:

Walter Elias Disney

Birth Place:

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession

Animator, producer, director, writer, voice actor

Fast Facts

Once worked for animator Walter Lantz, creator of Woody Woodpecker, in the Universal Studios animation division
His 1928 short Steamboat Willie was the first synchronized sound cartoon
During the early 1930s, developed the multiplane camera, which revolutionized animation by enabling the camera to look through a series of animation "planes" (up to seven, each lighted separately from the side) to create depth and dimension
In 1932, made the first all-Technicolor short, Flowers and Trees, for the Silly Symphonies series
It was the first cartoon to win an Oscar
During WWII, Disney Studios produced government training and propaganda films, as well as health movies
In 1947, Disney (an ardent foe of Communism) gave friendly testimony to the anti-Communist House Un-American Activities Committee
Received three special Oscars, for the creation of Mickey Mouse, innovations in feature-film animation and advancement of sound in motion pictures
Until his death in 1966, provided the voice for Mickey Mouse
His heirs, upset over negative portrayals of Disney after his death, opened the Walk Disney Family Museum in San Francisco in 2009
His daughter Diane told the New York Times that she was especially frustrated by a Neal Gabler biography, as well as by the 1994 book Walt Disney: Hollywood's Dark Prince, which depicted Disney as a bigot (a charge his family staunchly denies)

Awards

1968Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1965Emmy-Outstanding Program Achievements in Entertainment: nominated
1964Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
1962Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1961Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1961Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1960Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1960Oscar-Best Short Subject (Live Action): nominated
1959Oscar-Best Short Subject (Live Action): nominated
1959Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1959Oscar-Best Documentary (Short Subject): nominated
1959Oscar-Best Documentary (Short Subject): nominated
1958Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1958Oscar-Best Short Subject (Live Action): winner
1957Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1956Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): nominated
1956Emmy-Best Producer- Film Series: winner
1955Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1955Oscar-Best Documentary (Short Subject): winner
1955Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): nominated
1954Oscar-Best Documentary (Feature): winner
1954Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): nominated
1954Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1953Oscar-Best Documentary (Short Subject): winner
1953Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): nominated
1953Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1953Oscar-Best Documentary (Feature): winner
1952Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): winner
1951Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): winner
1951Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1951Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1950Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): winner
1949Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1948Oscar-Best Short Subject (Two-reel): winner
1948Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1947Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1946Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1945Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1944Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1943Oscar-Best Documentary (Short Subject): nominated
1943Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1942Oscar-Best Documentary: nominated
1942Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1941Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1940New York Film Critics Circle-Special Award: winner
1939Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1938Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1938Oscar-Special Award: winner
1937Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1936Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1935Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated
1934Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1933Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): winner
1932Oscar-Best Short Subject (Cartoon): nominated

Relationships

Roy O. Disney -- Brother
Diane Marie Disney Miller -- Daughter
Sharon Mae Disney Lund -- Daughter
Elias Disney -- Father
Flora Call Disney -- Mother
Roy E. Disney -- Nephew
Ruth Disney -- Sister
Lillian Bounds Disney -- Wife