Roger Allers, Disney film-maker and co-director of The Lion King, dies aged 76 | Walt Disney Company
Disney filmmaker Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King and worked on films such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, has died at the age of 76.
Dave Bossert, Allers’ colleague at the Walt Disney Company, announced her death on social media Sunday morning, remembering her as “an extraordinarily talented artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.”
“I had the privilege of being part of the team with Roger on many films throughout the late 80s and 90s,” Bossert wrote. “And he was, without a doubt, one of the kindest people you could ever hope to know and work with. He co-directed The Lion King, a remarkable achievement, but it never occurred to him… He had a sense of curiosity, generosity and enthusiasm that brought joy to everyone around him.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger remembered Allers as “a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will be passed on to future generations.”
“His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for all he has given to Disney. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and collaborators,” Iger wrote in a statement.
Born in New York in 1949 but raised in Arizona, Allers became fascinated with animation after seeing Disney’s Peter Pan when he was five. He started at Disney as part of the storyboard team on Tron (1982), then worked as a storyboard artist on Oliver & Company (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), and The Rescuers Down Under (1990), before becoming head of story on Beauty and the Beast (1991) and working on Aladdin (1992).
In 1994, Allers and Rob Minkoff co-directed The Lion King, which became the highest-grossing film of 1994. The film temporarily became the second highest-grossing film of all time, behind Jurassic Park. The Lion King remains the highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film of all time, as well as the best-selling film on home video, selling more than 55 million copies worldwide.
Allers and Minkoff won the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy film for The Lion King; Allers would go on to write the 1998 Tony-winning Broadway adaptation of The Lion King with Irene Mecchi, which continues to be shown in theaters worldwide.
Allers also worked on Lilo & Stitch and, while at Disney, on the story that would later become The Emperor’s New Groove. He also co-directed Sony Pictures Animation’s first feature film, Open Season, with Jill Culton.
