Award given by the Walt Disney Company
The Disney Legends Awards is a Hall of Fame program that recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. Established in 1987, the honor was traditionally awarded annually during a special private ceremony. Today, it has been awarded biennially during Disney's D23 Expo since 2009.[1]
Having been honoured in 1998, Glynis Johns currently holds the record for the oldest living and longest surviving Disney Legend.
Criteria
Recipients are chosen by a selection committee, formerly appointed and chaired by Disney Legend Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney's nephew, former vice chairman and director emeritus of The Walt Disney Company. The committee consists of long-time Disney executives, historians, and other authorities. Besides the award statuette itself, each honoree is represented by a bronze commemorative plaque featuring the recipients' handprints and signature if they were living when inducted, or simply an image of the statuette emblem if the induction was posthumous. The plaques are placed on display in Legends Plaza at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, across from the Michael D. Eisner Building.
The award
The Disney Legends Award statuette
Imagineer Andrea Favilli created the Disney Legends award, which is handcrafted from bronze each year. The award depicts the arm of Mickey Mouse holding a star-tipped wand.
Disney describes the award as follows:
The Disney Legends award has three distinct elements that characterize the contributions made by each talented recipient.
The Spiral ... stands for imagination, the power of an idea.
The Hand ... holds the gifts of skill, discipline and craftsmanship.
The Wand and the Star ... represent magic: the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.[2]
The first Disney Legends committee consisted of Dave Smith; Arlene Ludwig; Marty Sklar, Randy Bright; Jack Lindquist; Sharon Harwood; Art Levitt; Shelley Miles; Paula Sigman; Doris Smith; and Stacia Martin.[3]
In 2017 Kermit the Frog Muppeteer Steve Whitmire alleged that the company offered him "consolation prizes" including the Disney Legends award in return for keeping quiet about the details surrounding his termination.[4][5]
Recipients
The nametag given to Disney Legends
= awarded posthumously
1980s
Class of 1987
Class of 1989
- Les Clark, Animation [7]
- Marc Davis, Animation & Imagineering
- Ub Iwerks, Animation & Imagineering
- Ollie Johnston, Animation
- Milt Kahl, Animation
- Ward Kimball, Animation & Imagineering[8]
- Eric Larson, Animation [9]
- John Lounsbery, Animation [10]
- Wolfgang Reitherman, Animation [11]
- Frank Thomas, Animation[12]
All except Iwerks were Disney's "Nine Old Men".
1990s
Class of 1990
Class of 1991
Class of 1992
Class of 1993
- Pinto Colvig, Animation—Voice [31]
- Buddy Ebsen, Film & Television[32]
- Peter Ellenshaw, Film[33]
- Blaine Gibson, Animation & Imagineering[34]
- Harper Goff, Film & Imagineering[35]
- Irving Ludwig, Film[36]
- Jimmy MacDonald, Animation—Voice [37]
- Clarence Nash, Animation—Voice [38]
- Donn Tatum, Administration[39]
- Card Walker, Administration[40]
Class of 1994
Class of 1995
Class of 1996
Class of 1997
- Lucien Adés, Music [68]
- Angel Angelopoulos, Publishing [69]
- Antonio Bertini, Character Merchandise[70]
- Armand Bigle, Character Merchandise[71]
- Gaudenzio Capelli, Publishing[72]
- Roberto de Leonardis, Film [73]
- Cyril Edgar, Film [74]
- Wally Feignoux, Film [75]
- Didier Fouret, Publishing [76]
- Mario Gentilini, Publishing [77]
- Cyril James, Film & Merchandise [78]
- Horst Koblischek, Character Merchandise[79]
- Gunnar Mansson, Character Merchandise[80]
- Arnoldo Mondadori, Publishing [81]
- Armand Palivoda, Film [82]
- Poul Brahe Pedersen, Publishing [83]
- Joe Potter, Attractions [84]
- André Vanneste, Character Merchandise [85]
- Paul Winkler, Character Merchandise [86]
Class of 1998
- James Algar, Animation & Film[87]
- Buddy Baker, Music[88]
- Kathryn Beaumont, Animation—Voice[89]
- Virginia Davis, Animation[90]
- Don Escen, Administration[91]
- Wilfred Jackson, Animation [92]
- Glynis Johns, Film[93]
- Kay Kamen, Character Merchandise [94]
- Paul Kenworthy, Film[95]
- Larry Lansburgh, Film & Television[96]
- Hayley Mills, Film[97]
- Al Milotte and Elma Milotte, Film [98]
- Norman "Stormy" Palmer, Film[99]
- Lloyd Richardson, Film[100]
- Kurt Russell, Film[101]
- Ben Sharpsteen, Animation & Film [102]
- Masatomo Takahashi, Administration[103]
- Vladimir (Bill) Tytla, Animation [104]
- Dick Van Dyke, Film[105]
- Matsuo Yokoyama, Character Merchandise[106]
Class of 1999
- Tim Allen, Television, Film & Animation—Voice[107]
- Mary Costa, Animation—Voice[108]
- Norm Ferguson, Animation [109]
- Bill Garity, Film [110]
- Yale Gracey, Animation & Imagineering [111]
- Al Konetzni, Character Merchandise[112]
- Hamilton Luske, Animation [113]
- Dick Nunis, Attractions[114]
- Charlie Ridgway, Attractions[115]
2000s
Class of 2000
- Grace Bailey, Animation [116]
- Harriet Burns, Imagineering[117]
- Joyce Carlson, Animation & Imagineering[118]
- Ron Dominguez, Parks & Resorts[119]
- Cliff Edwards, Animation—Voice [120]
- Becky Fallberg, Animation[121]
- Dick Jones, Animation—Voice[122]
- Dodie Roberts, Animation[123]
- Retta Scott, Animation [124]
- Ruthie Tompson, Animation[125]
Class of 2001
- Howard Ashman, Music [126]
- Bob Broughton, Film[127]
- George Bruns, Music [128]
- Frank Churchill, Music [129]
- Leigh Harline, Music [130]
- Fred Joerger, Imagineering[131]
- Alan Menken, Music[132]
- Martin Sklar, Imagineering[133]
- Ned Washington, Music [134]
- Tyrus Wong, Animation[135]
Class of 2002
Note: In honor of the opening of the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, all 2002 inductees are of European origin. The ceremony was held in the Animation building at the new park on opening day.
- Ken Annakin, Film[136]
- Hugh Attwooll, Film[137]
- Maurice Chevalier, Film [138]
- Phil Collins, Music
- Sir John Mills, Film[139]
- Robert Newton, Film & Television [140]
- Sir Tim Rice, Music
- Robert Stevenson, Film
- Richard Todd, Film & Television
- David Tomlinson, Film
Class of 2003
Following a dispute between Roy E. Disney and the company that resulted in Disney departing, Robert Iger, the company's then-president and COO co-presented with Michael Eisner.
Class of 2004
- Bill Anderson, Film & Television[152]
- Tim Conway, Film[153]
- Rolly Crump, Imagineering[154]
- Alice Davis, Imagineering[155]
- Karen Dotrice, Film & Television[156]
- Matthew Garber, Film [157]
- Leonard H. Goldenson, Television [158]
- Bob Gurr, Imagineering[159]
- Ralph Kent, Imagineering & Attractions[160]
- Irwin Kostal, Music [161]
- Mel Shaw, Animation[162]
Class of 2005
In honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary in 2005, all recipients are related to either Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and/or Walt Disney Imagineering, and nearly all have had some connection with Disneyland. Roy E. Disney again co-presented the awards, after a two-year hiatus and a return to the company.
- Chuck Abbott, Parks & Resorts [163]
- Milt Albright, Parks & Resorts[164]
- Hideo Amemiya, Parks & Resorts [165]
- Hideo Aramaki, Parks & Resorts [166]
- Charles Boyer, Parks & Resorts[167]
- Randy Bright, Imagineering [168]
- James Cora, Parks & Resorts[169]
- Robert Jani, Parks & Resorts [170]
- Mary Jones, Parks & Resorts[171]
- Art Linkletter, Parks & Resorts[172]
- Mary Anne Mang, Parks & Resorts[173]
- Steve Martin, Parks & Resorts[174]
- Tom Nabbe, Parks & Resorts[175]
- Jack Olsen, Parks & Resorts [176]
- Cicely Rigdon, Parks & Resorts[177]
- William Sullivan, Parks & Resorts[178]
- Jack Wagner, Parks & Resorts [179]
- Vesey Walker, Parks & Resorts [180]
Class of 2006
- Tim Considine, Television & Film[181]
- Kevin Corcoran, Television & Film[182]
- Al Dempster, Animation [183]
- Don Edgren, Imagineering[184]
- Paul Frees, Television, Film & Parks [185]
- Peter Jennings, Television [186]
- Sir Elton John, Music[187]
- Jimmy Johnson, Music [188]
- Tommy Kirk, Television & Film[189]
- Joe Ranft, Animation [190]
- David Stollery, Television & Film[191]
- Ginny Tyler, Television & Film[192]
Class of 2007
- Roone Arledge, Television [193]
- Art Babbitt, Animation [194]
- Carl Bongirno, Imagineering[195]
- Marge Champion, Animation[196]
- Dick Huemer, Animation [197]
- Ron Logan, Parks & Resorts[198]
- Lucille Martin, Administration[199]
- Tom Murphy, Administration[200]
- Randy Newman, Music[201]
- Floyd Norman, Animation[202]
- Bob Schiffer, Film Production[203]
- Dave Smith, Archives[204]
Class of 2008
- Wayne Allwine, Animation—Voice[205]
- Bob Booth, Attractions[206]
- Roy E. Disney, Film, Animation & Administration[207]
- Neil Gallagher, Attractions[208]
- Frank Gifford, Television[209]
- Burny Mattinson, Animation[210]
- Walter Peregoy, Animation[211]
- Dorothea Redmond, Designer[212]
- Russi Taylor, Animation—Voice[213]
- Toshio Kagami, Parks and Resorts[214]
- Ian McGuinness, - Animation & Entertainment [215]
- Barbara Walters, Television[216]
- Oliver Wallace, Music [217]
Class of 2009
- Tony Anselmo, Animation—Voice[218]
- Harry Archinal, Administration[219]
- Beatrice Arthur, Film & Television [220]
- Bill Farmer, Animation—Voice[221]
- Estelle Getty, Film & Television [222]
- Don Iwerks, Film[223]
- Rue McClanahan, Film & Television[224]
- Leota Toombs Thomas, Attractions [225]
- Betty White, Film & Television[226]
- Robin Williams, Film & Animation—Voice[227]
[228]
2010s
Class of 2011
- Regis Philbin, Television[229]
- Jim Henson, Film & Television [230]
- Jodi Benson, Animation—Voice
- Paige O'Hara, Animation—Voice
- Lea Salonga, Animation—Voice
- Linda Larkin, Animation—Voice
- Anika Noni Rose, Animation—Voice
- Jack Wrather, Parks & Resorts [231]
- Bonita Wrather, Film [232]
- Guy Williams, Television [233]
- Bo Boyd, Consumer Products[234]
- Raymond Watson, Administration[235]
[236]
Class of 2013
[239]
Class of 2015
Class of 2017
- Carrie Fisher, Film
- Clyde Geronimi, Animation
- Whoopi Goldberg, Film & Television
- Manuel Gonzales, Animation
- Mark Hamill, Film
- Wayne Jackson, Imagineering[243]
- Jack Kirby, Publishing
- Stan Lee, Film & Publishing[244]
- Garry Marshall, Film & Television
- Julie Taymor, Theatrical
- Oprah Winfrey, Film & Television[245][246][247]
Class of 2019
- Christina Aguilera, Music & Television[248]
- Wing T. Chao, Parks & Resorts
- Robert Downey Jr., Film
- James Earl Jones, Film
- Jon Favreau, Film[249]
- Bette Midler, Film[250]
- Kenny Ortega, Film & Television
- Barnette Ricci, Parks & Resorts
- Robin Roberts, Television
- Diane Sawyer, Television
- Ming-Na Wen, Film, Television & Animation—Voice[251]
- Hans Zimmer, Music[252][253][254]
2020s
Class of 2022
- Anthony Anderson, Film & Television[255]
- Kristen Bell, Film & Animation—Voice[255]
- Chadwick Boseman, Film[255][256]
- Rob't Coltrin, Parks & Resorts[255][257]
- Patrick Dempsey, Film & Television[255]
- Robert Price "Bob" Foster, Administration[255]
- Josh Gad, Film & Animation—Voice[255]
- Jonathan Groff, Film & Animation—Voice[255]
- Don Hahn, Animation[255]
- Doris Hardoon, Imagineering[255]
- Idina Menzel, Film & Animation—Voice[255]
- Chris Montan, Music[255]
- Ellen Pompeo, Television[255]
- Tracee Ellis Ross, Television[255]
