Walt Disney 1901 – 1966

Biography

Walt Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Missouri, where he developed a love of drawing and storytelling. After a failed animation venture in Kansas City, he moved to Hollywood with his brother Roy and created Mickey Mouse, whose debut in the synchronized-sound cartoon Steamboat Willie in 1928 changed animation forever. He built the Walt Disney studio into a powerhouse, producing the first feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, followed by Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Bambi. He later created Disneyland in California, a new kind of family theme park, and planned a second park in Florida. He won more Academy Awards than any other individual. He died in Burbank, California, in 1966. His company grew into one of the largest entertainment empires in the world, and his parks still draw millions of visitors each year.