Next month at the D23 Expo, eight individuals will be honored for their contributions to the Disney legacy when they are named Disney Legends, bringing the total number of Disney Legends to 237.
The 2013 Disney Legend Award honorees are Tony Baxter, Collin Campbell, Dick Clark, Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Jobs, Glen Keane, and Ed Wynn.
The Disney Legends Awards is a 26-year tradition of The Walt Disney Company. The first Disney Legend was actor Fred MacMurry (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor) who was given the honor in 1987. Other Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Robin Williams, Julie Andrews, Regis Philbin, Annette Funicellow, Steve Martin, Hayley Mills, Sir Tim Rice, and Barbara Walters. Disney fans first had a chance to see the award presentation at the 2009 D23 Expo.
“The Disney Legend Award is our highest and most coveted honor,” said Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger. “It’s reserved for the extraordinary visionaries and artists behind the Disney magic, the men and women who push the limits of innovation and creativity to ensure Disney remains truly special. The eight Legends we honor this year helped create some of our most beloved characters along with exciting new worlds and thrilling attractions. They also entertained millions of people and expanded our definition of what’s possible. They are all indelible parts of our legacy, and we are proud to recognize them as true Disney Legends.”
The 2013 Disney Legends, in alphabetical order:
Tony Baxter: In his 43-year career with Walt Disney Imagineering he has developed attractions including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Journey Into Imagination, Splash Mountain, and more.
Collin Campbell: His work with Walt Disney Imagineering includes the development of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Pirates of the Caribbean, and concept illustrations of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. He has also worked on animation classics.
Dick Clark: Best known as the host of ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from 1973 until 2011 and the host of American Bandstand starting in 1958, Dick Clark also produced game shows, award shows, special movies, and other television specials.
Billy Crystal: The voice of everyone’s favorite little monster, Mike Waszwoski, Billy Crystal is also an acclaimed actor from films including When Harry Met Sally, The Princess Bride, and City Slickers. He has won six Emmy Awards and one Tony Award, and has hosted the Academy Awards nine times.
John Goodman: In addition to providing the voice for James P. “Sully” Sullivan in Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, John Goodman is also known for his roles in The Big Lebowski, The Flintstones, Argo, and Flight. Other film roles include Arachnophobia, Coyote Ugly, and O Brother, Where Art Thou.
Steve Jobs: The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs was also known for his visionary attitude and penchant for innovation. He was an early investor and chief executive of Pixar and became Disney’s largest shareholder when it acquired Pixar Animation in 2006. He was also on the Disney board of directors, and remained an advisor to the company until his death in 2011.
Glen Keane: He became a Disney animator in 1974 and brought many popular characters to life including Penny in The Rescuers, Elliot in Pete’s Dragon, Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective, and Beast in Beauty and the Beast. Glen also served as the Executive Producer and Animation Supervisor for Tangled – a story he had developed for more than 10 years.
Ed Wynn: He appeared in many Disney classics in the 1960s including Mary Poppins, Babes in Toyland, That Darn Cat, The Absent-Minded Professor, and Son of Flubber. Ed also starred as the voice of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland.
All honorees receive a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture and participate in a handprint ceremony. The bronze prints will be on display at the Disney Legends Plaza at the Burbank headquarters of The Walt Disney Company.
The Disney Legends Award Ceremony takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 10 inside the D23 Expo Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center and will be hosted by Tom Bergeron. Admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and is included in the price of a ticket to the Expo. The ceremony will also be simulcast into a 2,000 seat overflow theater inside the Convention Center.
