The Walt Disney Company has announced that Walt Disney Archive founder and Disney Legend Dave Smith died on February 15, 2019 at the age of 78.
Dave spent four decades working at The Walt Disney Company, preserving the history of Disney films, television, theme parks, and more.
In a statement, Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger said: “I’m deeply saddened to learn of Dave Smith’s passing. He was the unsung hero of Disney’s history who, as our first archivist, spent 40 years rescuing countless documents and artifacts from obscurity, investing endless hours restoring and preserving these priceless pieces of our legacy, and putting them in context to tell our story. Dave was a true Disney Legend, and we are indebted to him for building such an enduring, tangible connection to our past that continues to inspire our future.”
Dave began his Disney career in 1970 and his first job was cataloging everything in Walt Disney’s office – which had been left untouched since his passing four years prior.
Dave was named a Disney Legend in 2007, and retired from Disney in 2010 but held the title of Chief Archivist Emeritus.
