Disney Legends

Disney Legends is a Hall of Fame award that is awarded by The Walt Disney Company to individuals who "[have] made a significant impact on the Disney legacy." The honor was established in 1987, and was traditionally awarded annually during a special private ceremony. Since 2009, it has been awarded on a biennial basis during Disney's D23 Expo.

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
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.

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.

In 2017, Muppet performer 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 and/or resignation depending on who tells his story.

A 14 foot sculpture replica of the award exists outside the entrance of Disneyland Paris. It was dedicated and unveiled in 1997 and re-dedicated in 2002.

Recipients


= awarded posthumously

Class of 1987

 * Fred MacMurray, Film

Class of 1989

 * Les Clark, Animation
 * Marc Davis, Animation & Imagineering
 * Ub Iwerks, Animation & Imagineering
 * Ollie Johnston, Animation
 * Milt Kahl, Animation
 * Ward Kimball, Animation & Imagineering
 * Eric Larson, Animation
 * John Lounsbery, Animation
 * Wolfgang Reitherman, Animation
 * Frank Thomas, Animation

All except Iwerks were Disney's "Nine Old Men".

Class of 1990

 * Roger Broggie, Imagineering
 * Joe Fowler, Attractions
 * John Hench, Animation & Imagineering
 * Richard Irvine, Imagineering
 * Herb Ryman, Imagineering
 * Sherman Brothers, Music

Class of 1991

 * Ken Anderson, Animation & Imagineering
 * Julie Andrews, Film
 * Carl Barks, Animation & Publishing
 * Mary Blair, Animation & Imagineering
 * Claude Coats, Animation & Imagineering
 * Don DaGradi, Animation & Film
 * Sterling Holloway, Animation—Voice
 * Fess Parker, Film & Television
 * Bill Walsh, Film & Television

Class of 1992

 * Jimmie Dodd, Television
 * Bill Evans, Imagineering
 * Annette Funicello, Film & Television
 * Joe Grant, Animation
 * Jack Hannah, Animation
 * Winston Hibler, Film
 * Ken O'Connor, Animation & Imagineering
 * Roy Williams, Animation & Television

Class of 1993

 * Pinto Colvig, Animation—Voice
 * Buddy Ebsen, Film & Television
 * Peter Ellenshaw, Film
 * Blaine Gibson, Animation & Imagineering
 * Harper Goff, Film & Imagineering
 * Irving Ludwig, Film
 * Jimmy MacDonald, Animation—Voice
 * Clarence Nash, Animation—Voice
 * Donn Tatum, Administration
 * Card Walker, Administration

Class of 1994

 * Adriana Caselotti, Animation—Voice
 * Bill Cottrell, Animation & Imagineering
 * Marvin Davis, Film & Imagineering
 * Van France, Attractions
 * David Hand, Animation
 * Jack Lindquist, Attractions
 * Bill Martin, Imagineering
 * Paul J. Smith, Music
 * Frank Wells, Administration

Class of 1995

 * Wally Boag, Attractions
 * Fulton Burley, Attractions
 * Dean Jones, Film
 * Angela Lansbury, Film
 * Edward Meck, Attractions
 * Fred Moore, Animation
 * Thurl Ravenscroft, Animation—Voice
 * Wathel Rogers, Imagineering
 * Betty Taylor, Attractions

Class of 1996

 * Bob Allen, Attractions
 * Rex Allen, Film & Television
 * X Atencio, Animation & Imagineering
 * Betty Lou Gerson, Animation—Voice
 * Bill Justice, Animation & Imagineering
 * Bob Matheison, Attractions
 * Sam McKim, Imagineering
 * Bob Moore, Animation & Film
 * Bill Peet, Animation—Story

Class of 1997

 * Lucien Adés, Music
 * Angel Angelopoulos, Publishing
 * Antonio Bertini, Character Merchandise
 * Armand Bigle, Character Merchandise
 * Gaudenzio Capelli, Publishing
 * Roberto de Leonardis, Film
 * Cyril Edgar, Film
 * Wally Feignoux, Film
 * Didier Fouret, Publishing
 * Mario Gentilini, Publishing
 * Cyril James, Film & Merchandise
 * Horst Koblischek, Character Merchandise
 * Gunnar Mansson, Character Merchandise
 * Arnoldo Mondadori, Publishing
 * Armand Palivoda, Film
 * Poul Brahe Pedersen, Publishing
 * Joe Potter, Attractions
 * André Vanneste, Character Merchandise
 * Paul Winkler, Character Merchandise

Class of 1998

 * James Algar, Animation & Film
 * Buddy Baker, Music
 * Kathryn Beaumont, Animation—Voice
 * Virginia Davis, Animation
 * Roy E. Disney, Film, Animation & Administration
 * Don Escen, Administration
 * Wilfred Jackson, Animation
 * Glynis Johns, Film
 * Kay Kamen, Character Merchandise
 * Paul Kenworthy, Film
 * Larry Lansburgh, Film & Television
 * Hayley Mills, Film
 * Al Milotte and Elma Milotte, Film
 * Norman "Stormy" Palmer, Film
 * Lloyd Richardson, Film
 * Kurt Russell, Film
 * Ben Sharpsteen, Animation & Film
 * Masatomo Takahashi, Administration
 * Vladimir (Bill) Tytla, Animation
 * Dick Van Dyke, Film
 * Matsuo Yokoyama, Character Merchandise

Class of 1999

 * Tim Allen, Television, Film & Animation—Voice
 * Mary Costa, Animation—Voice
 * Norm Ferguson, Animation
 * Bill Garity, Film
 * Yale Gracey, Animation & Imagineering
 * Al Konetzni, Character Merchandise
 * Hamilton Luske, Animation
 * Dick Nunis, Attractions
 * Charlie Ridgway, Attractions

Class of 2000

 * Grace Bailey, Animation
 * Harriet Burns, Imagineering
 * Joyce Carlson, Animation & Imagineering
 * Ron Dominguez, Parks & Resorts
 * Cliff Edwards, Animation—Voice
 * Becky Fallberg, Animation
 * Dick Jones, Animation—Voice
 * Dodie Roberts, Animation
 * Retta Scott, Animation
 * Ruthie Tompson, Animation

Class of 2001

 * Howard Ashman, Music
 * Bob Broughton, Film
 * George Bruns, Music
 * Frank Churchill, Music
 * Leigh Harline, Music
 * Fred Joerger, Imagineering
 * Alan Menken, Music
 * Martin Sklar, Imagineering
 * Ned Washington, Music
 * Tyrus Wong, Animation

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
 * Hugh Attwooll, Film
 * Maurice Chevalier, Film
 * Phil Collins, Music
 * Sir John Mills, Film
 * Robert Newton, Film & Television
 * 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.
 * Neil Beckett, Merchandise
 * Tutti Camarata, Music
 * Edna Francis Disney
 * Lillian Disney
 * Orlando Ferrante, Imagineering
 * Richard Fleischer, Film
 * Floyd Gottfredson, Animation
 * Buddy Hackett, Film & Television
 * Harrison "Buzz" Price, Research Economist
 * Al Taliaferro, Cartoonist
 * Ilene Woods, Music—Voice

Class of 2004

 * Bill Anderson, Film & Television
 * Tim Conway, Film
 * Rolly Crump, Imagineering
 * Alice Davis, Imagineering
 * Karen Dotrice, Film & Television
 * Matthew Garber, Film
 * Leonard H. Goldenson, Television
 * Bob Gurr, Imagineering
 * Ralph Kent, Imagineering & Attractions
 * Irwin Kostal, Music
 * Mel Shaw, Animation

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
 * Milt Albright, Parks & Resorts
 * Hideo Amemiya, Parks & Resorts
 * Hideo Aramaki, Parks & Resorts
 * Charles Boyer, Parks & Resorts
 * Randy Bright, Imagineering
 * James Cora, Parks & Resorts
 * Robert Jani, Parks & Resorts
 * Mary Jones, Parks & Resorts
 * Art Linkletter, Parks & Resorts
 * Mary Anne Mang, Parks & Resorts
 * Steve Martin, Parks & Resorts
 * Tom Nabbe, Parks & Resorts
 * Jack Olsen, Parks & Resorts
 * Cicely Rigdon, Parks & Resorts
 * William Sullivan, Parks & Resorts
 * Jack Wagner, Parks & Resorts
 * Vesey Walker, Parks & Resorts

Class of 2006

 * Tim Considine, Television & Film
 * Kevin Corcoran, Television & Film
 * Al Dempster, Animation
 * Don Edgren, Imagineering
 * Paul Frees, Television, Film & Parks
 * Peter Jennings, Television
 * Elton John, Music
 * Jimmy Johnson, Music
 * Tommy Kirk, Television & Film
 * Joe Ranft, Animation
 * David Stollery, Television & Film
 * Ginny Tyler, Television & Film

Class of 2007

 * Roone Arledge, Television
 * Art Babbitt, Animation
 * Carl Bongirno, Imagineering
 * Marge Champion, Animation
 * Dick Huemer, Animation
 * Ron Logan, Parks & Resorts
 * Lucille Martin, Administration
 * Tom Murphy, Administration
 * Randy Newman, Music
 * Floyd Norman, Animation
 * Bob Schiffer, Film Production
 * Dave Smith, Archives

Class of 2008

 * Wayne Allwine, Animation—Voice
 * Bob Booth, Attractions
 * Neil Gallagher, Attractions
 * Frank Gifford, Television
 * Toshio Kagami, Parks and Resorts
 * Burny Mattinson, Animation
 * Ian McGuinness, Television
 * Walter Peregoy, Animation
 * Dorothea Redmond, Designer
 * Russi Taylor, Animation—Voice
 * Barbara Walters, Television
 * Oliver Wallace, Music

Class of 2009

 * Tony Anselmo, Animation—Voice
 * Harry Archinal, Administration
 * Beatrice Arthur, Film & Television
 * Bill Farmer, Animation—Voice
 * Estelle Getty, Film & Television
 * Don Iwerks, Film
 * Rue McClanahan, Film & Television
 * Leota Toombs Thomas, Attractions
 * Betty White, Film & Television
 * Robin Williams, Film & Animation—Voice

Class of 2011

 * Regis Philbin, Television
 * Jim Henson, Film & Television
 * 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
 * Bonita Wrather, Film
 * Guy Williams, Television
 * Bo Boyd, Consumer Products
 * Raymond Watson, Administration

Class of 2013

 * Tony Baxter, Imagineering
 * Collin Campbell, Imagineering
 * Dick Clark, Television
 * Billy Crystal, Film & Animation—Voice
 * John Goodman, Film & Animation—Voice
 * Steve Jobs, Animation
 * Glen Keane, Animation
 * Ed Wynn, Film & Animation—Voice

Class of 2015

 * George Bodenheimer, Administration & Television
 * Andreas Deja, Animation
 * Johnny Depp, Film
 * Eyvind Earle, Animation
 * Danny Elfman, Music
 * George Lucas, Film & Parks and Resorts
 * Susan Lucci, Television
 * Julie Reihm Casaletto, Parks and Resorts
 * Carson Van Osten, Consumer Products

Class of 2017

 * Carrie Fisher, Film
 * Clyde Geronimi, Animation
 * Whoopi Goldberg, Film & Television
 * Manuel Gonzales, Animation
 * Mark Hamill, Film
 * Wayne Jackson, Imagineering
 * Jack Kirby, Publishing
 * Stan Lee, Film & Publishing
 * Garry Marshall, Film & Television
 * Julie Taymor, Theatrical
 * Oprah Winfrey, Film & Television

Class of 2019

 * Christina Aguilera, Music & Television
 * Wing T. Chao, Parks & Resorts
 * Robert Downey Jr., Film
 * James Earl Jones, Film
 * Jon Favreau, Film
 * Bette Midler, Film
 * Kenny Ortega, Film & Television
 * Barnette Ricci, Parks & Resorts
 * Robin Roberts, Television
 * Diane Sawyer, Television
 * Ming-Na Wen, Film, Television & Animation—Voice
 * Hans Zimmer, Music