Born - Walter Elias Disney
December 5, 1901
Chicago, Illinois, US.
Died - December 15, 1966 (aged 65)
Burbank, California, US.
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American entrepreneur, cartoonist, animator, voice actor, and film producer.
He was a prominent figure within the American animation industry and throughout the world, and is regarded as a cultural icon, known for his influence and contributions to entertainment during the 20th century.
As a Hollywood business mogul, he and his brother Roy O. Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company.
In 1923 he left with his brother Roy for Hollywood and for some years struggled against poverty while producing a series of cartoon films.
In 1927 he had some success with the series called "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit", but it was not until September 1928, when "Steamboat Willie" appeared, the first "Mickey Mouse" with sound, that he achieved lasting success.
Mickey Mouse became a household word together with such companions as Minnie, Pluto, and — perhaps the favourite of them all — Donald Duck.
"The Three Little Pigs" and " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", with their still familiar songs by Frank Churchill, immediately spring to mind.
After the Second World War Disney turned his attention to real-life nature studies and non-cartoon films with living actors.
After a rather unsuccessful feature cartoon "The Sleeping Beauty", he made a triumphant come-back with the very successful "Mary Poppins".