History of Walt Disney in Timeline

Walt Disney was a highly influential American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur who revolutionized the animation industry. He holds the record for the most Academy Awards and nominations. His groundbreaking work led to the creation of iconic films and characters, many of which have been recognized for their cultural and artistic significance, earning places in the National Film Registry and AFI's list of greatest films.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

December 5, 1901: Walt Disney's Birth

On December 5, 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago, Illinois. He later became a famous animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur.

1901: Early Interest in Drawing

In 1901, Walt Disney was born in Chicago and developed an early interest in drawing. He took art classes as a boy before becoming a commercial illustrator.

December 1903: Birth of Ruth Disney

In December 1903, Walt Disney's parents, Elias and Flora Disney, had their fifth child, Ruth.

1906: Move to Marceline, Missouri

In 1906, when Walt Disney was four years old, his family moved to a farm in Marceline, Missouri.

1909: Start of School at Park School

In late 1909, Walt Disney and his younger sister Ruth started school at the same time at the Park School in Marceline.

1911: Move to Kansas City, Missouri

In 1911, the Disney family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. There, Walt Disney attended the Benton Grammar School.

1917: Move back to Chicago

In 1917, Elias Disney bought stock in a Chicago jelly producer, the O-Zell Company, and moved back to the city with his family. Walt Disney enrolled at McKinley High School and became the school newspaper's cartoonist.

September 1918: Joined Red Cross as Ambulance Driver

In September 1918, after forging his birth certificate, Walt Disney joined the Red Cross as an ambulance driver.

October 1919: Apprentice Artist at Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio

In October 1919, Walt Disney returned to Kansas City and worked as an apprentice artist at the Pesmen-Rubin Commercial Art Studio.

January 1920: Laid off from Pesmen-Rubin

In January 1920, Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks were laid off from Pesmen-Rubin. They subsequently started their own business, Iwerks-Disney Commercial Artists.

May 1921: Establishment of Laugh-O-Gram Studio

In May 1921, Walt Disney's success with the "Laugh-O-Grams" led to the establishment of Laugh-O-Gram Studio.

July 1923: Move to Hollywood

In July 1923, Walt Disney moved to Hollywood at 21 years old and began efforts to sell "Alice's Wonderland".

1923: Bankruptcy of Laugh-O-Gram Studio

In 1923, Laugh-O-Gram Studio went into bankruptcy after the completion of "Alice's Wonderland".

July 1924: Hiring of Ub Iwerks

In July 1924, Walt Disney hired Ub Iwerks, persuading him to relocate to Hollywood from Kansas City.

1925: Marriage to Lillian Bounds

In 1925, Walt Disney hired Lillian Bounds and they married in July of that year in Lewiston, Idaho.

1926: Winkler's role in distribution was handed over to her husband, Charles Mintz.

By 1926, Margaret Winkler's role in the distribution of the "Alice" series had been handed over to her husband, film producer Charles Mintz.

1926: Establishment of Walt Disney Studio

In 1926, the first official Walt Disney Studio was established at 2725 Hyperion Avenue.

July 1927: End of the Alice Series

The Alice series ran until July 1927. By this time, Disney had begun to tire of the series and wanted to move away from the mixed format to all animation.

1927: Release of The Jazz Singer

Following the 1927 sensation of "The Jazz Singer", Disney used synchronized sound on the third short, "Steamboat Willie", to create the first post-produced sound cartoon.

February 1928: Loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

In February 1928, Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and most of his animation staff after a dispute with Charles Mintz.

May 1928: Mickey Mouse's First Appearance

In May 1928, Mickey Mouse first appeared in a test screening of the short "Plane Crazy", however, it failed to find a distributor.

1928: Mickey Mouse Creation

In 1928, Walt Disney, with Ub Iwerks, developed the character Mickey Mouse. This was Disney's first highly popular success. Walt also provided the voice for his creation in the early years.

1929: First Silly Symphony: The Skeleton Dance

In 1929, The Skeleton Dance was released, the first in the Silly Symphony series. It was drawn and animated entirely by Ub Iwerks.

1930: Introduction of Pluto

In 1930, Disney and his crew introduced Pluto as a new cartoon star.

1930: Disney urged Iwerks to abandon drawing every frame individually.

In 1930, Walt Disney tried to trim costs by urging Ub Iwerks to abandon the practice of drawing every frame individually in favor of a more efficient technique. He also asked for an increase in payment for cartoons, but was refused and Iwerks was signed to work for Powers.

October 1931: Walt Disney's nervous breakdown

In October 1931, Walt Disney had a nervous breakdown, which he blamed on the machinations of Powers and his own overwork. He and Lillian took a holiday to Cuba and a cruise to Panama to recover.

1932: Introduction of Goofy and Academy Award

In 1932, Disney introduced Goofy as a new cartoon star. In 1932, Disney filmed Flowers and Trees in full-color three-strip Technicolor, winning the inaugural Academy Award for best Short Subject (Cartoon). Disney also received an Honorary Award "for the creation of Mickey Mouse".

December 1933: Birth of Daughter Diane

In December 1933, Walt and Lillian Disney's daughter, Diane, was born.

1933: Release of The Three Little Pigs

In 1933, Disney produced 'The Three Little Pigs', which won Disney another Academy Award in the Short Subject (Cartoon) category. The film's success led to a further increase in the studio's staff. Disney invested in a story department separate from the animators.

1934: Introduction of Donald Duck

In 1934, Disney and his crew introduced Donald Duck as a new cartoon star.

1934: Production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

In 1934, Disney became dissatisfied with producing cartoon shorts and began the four-year production of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'.

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August 31, 1935: Expiration of Technicolor Deal

On August 31, 1935, Disney's deal giving him the sole right to use the three-strip Technicolor process expired.

1935: Chevalier in the French Légion d'honneur

In 1935, Walt Disney was made a Chevalier in the French Légion d'honneur.

December 1936: Adoption of Daughter Sharon

In December 1936, Walt and Lillian Disney adopted their daughter, Sharon, who was born six weeks prior.

December 1937: Premiere of Snow White

In December 1937, 'Snow White' premiered to high praise from critics and audiences.

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1937: Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

In 1937, Walt Disney released "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", a feature-length cartoon that furthered the development of animated film.

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1937: The Old Mill release

In 1937, the first work created on the multiplane camera—a Silly Symphony called 'The Old Mill'—won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film.

1937: Production of Bambi

Since 1937 Disney started production of the feature film Bambi.

1938: Reference in 'The Holy Terror'

In 1938, H. G. Wells referenced Walt Disney in his novel 'The Holy Terror', where the World Dictator Rud fears that Donald Duck is meant to lampoon him.

The Holy Terror

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1938: Production of Pinocchio and Fantasia

In 1938, the studio began producing 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia'.

May 1939: Snow White's Success

By May 1939, 'Snow White's' total gross of $6.5 million made it the most successful sound film made to that date.

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October 1940: Enlisting Contracts to make training films

As early as October 1940 Walt Disney began enlisting contracts from various branches of the United States Armed Forces to make training films.

1940: Release of Pinocchio and Fantasia

In 1940, 'Pinocchio' and 'Fantasia' were released, and neither performed well at the box office.

1940: Public Stock Offering

In 1940, Disney and his brother Roy started the company's first public stock offering.

1940: Switch to the Republican Party

In 1940, Walt Disney switched allegiance to the Republican Party after being a Democratic Party supporter.

1940: Demolition of Hyperion Avenue Studio

In 1940, the first official Walt Disney Studio at 2725 Hyperion Avenue was demolished.

February 1941: Studio Debt

By the end of February 1941, the studio was deeply in debt due to the financial performance of Pinocchio and Fantasia.

March 1941: Offering Services to Government

In March 1941 Walt Disney held a luncheon with Government representatives formally offering his services for national defence industries at cost and without profit.

October 1941: Release of Dumbo

Shortly after the release of Dumbo in October 1941, the U.S. entered World War II.

1941: Art Babbitt Claims about Disney Attending German American Bund Meetings

Animator Art Babbitt claimed that he saw Walt Disney attend meetings of the German American Bund, a pro-Nazi organization, during the late 1930s. However, this claim is disputed by Disney's biographer Neal Gabler.

1941: Response to Cartoonist Strike

In 1941, Walt Disney paid for a full-page ad in Variety claiming that "Communistic agitation" was responsible for a cartoonist strike against him.

1941: Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)

In 1941, Walt Disney received Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross.

1941: Release of Dumbo

In 1941, Walt Disney released "Dumbo", another animated film that contributed to the development of the animated film industry.

1941: Animators' Strike and Dumbo Release

In 1941, heavy salary cuts led to an animators' strike that lasted five weeks. The strike temporarily interrupted the studio's next production, Dumbo, which was produced in a simple and inexpensive manner; the film received a positive reaction from audiences and critics alike.

August 1942: Release of Bambi

In August 1942, the feature film 'Bambi' was released, but underperformed at the box office, losing $200,000.

1942: Special Achievement Award for Bambi

In 1942, Walt Disney received a Special Achievement Award for 'Bambi'.

1942: Release of Bambi

In 1942, Walt Disney released "Bambi", another animated film that furthered the development of animated film.

1943: Release of Victory Through Air Power

In 1943, Disney released the propaganda feature film 'Victory Through Air Power'. Disney also produced shorts such as Der Fuehrer's Face which won an Academy Award.

1943: Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico)

In 1943, Walt Disney received Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle.

1944: Donation to Thomas E. Dewey's Presidential Bid

In 1944, Walt Disney became a generous donor to Thomas E. Dewey's bid for the presidency.

1944: Motion Picture Alliance Formation

In 1944, the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, an anti-Communist organization, was formed, and Walt Disney associated himself with the organization, leading to accusations of antisemitism, despite his distancing himself from it later.

1944: Studio Debt

In 1944, the company had debts of $4 million with the Bank of America.

1946: Founding Member of the Motion Picture Alliance

In 1946, Walt Disney was a founding member of the Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.

1947: Disney Distances Himself

In 1947, Walt Disney distanced himself from the Motion Picture Alliance and had no further involvement with the organization.

1947: End of Disney voicing Mickey Mouse

In 1947, Walt Disney stopped providing the voice for Mickey Mouse, having distanced himself from the animation process.

1947: Testimony Before HUAC

In 1947, Walt Disney testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and branded Herbert Sorrell, David Hilberman, and William Pomerance as communist agitators.

1948: True-Life Adventures Series

In 1948, Disney initiated a series of live-action nature films, titled True-Life Adventures, with 'Seal Island' the first. The film won the Academy Award in the Best Short Subject (Two-Reel) category.

1949: Move to Holmby Hills and Carolwood Pacific Railroad Creation

In 1949, Walt Disney and his family moved to a new home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Soon after, Disney developed a miniature live steam railroad for his backyard, named the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.

1950: Release of Cinderella

In 1950, Walt Disney released "Cinderella", a critically successful animated film.

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1950: Television Special

In Christmas Day 1950 the studio had been involved in a successful television special about the making of Alice in Wonderland.

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1950: Release of Cinderella and Treasure Island

In early 1950, Disney produced 'Cinderella', his studio's first animated feature in eight years and it earned nearly $8 million in its first year. Also in 1950, Disney was involved in his first entirely live-action feature, 'Treasure Island', which was shot in Britain.

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March 1951: Shareholder Letter on Television

In a March 1951 letter to shareholders, Roy Disney wrote that "television can be a most powerful selling aid for us, as well as a source of revenue. It will probably be on this premise that we enter television when we do".

1951: Release of Alice in Wonderland

In 1951, Disney released the full-length animated feature, 'Alice in Wonderland'.

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March 1952: Zoning Permission for Theme Park

In March 1952, Disney received zoning permission to build a theme park in Burbank, near the Disney studios. The site proved too small, and a larger plot in Anaheim was purchased.

1952: Production of The Story of Robin Hood

In 1952, Disney produced The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, which was shot in Britain.

1952: Officer d'Academie

In 1952, Walt Disney was awarded France's highest artistic decoration, the Officer d'Academie.

1953: Release of Peter Pan

In 1953, Disney released the full-length animated feature 'Peter Pan'.

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1953: Special Achievement Award for The Living Desert

In 1953, Walt Disney received a Special Achievement Award for 'The Living Desert'.

July 1954: Construction of Disneyland Started

In July 1954, construction work started on Disneyland.

1954: Walt Disney's Disneyland Broadcast

In 1954, ABC broadcast Walt Disney's Disneyland, an anthology consisting of animated cartoons, live-action features and other material from the studio's library. The show was successful in terms of ratings and profits.

1954: Designation as "Special Agent in Charge Contact" by the FBI

In 1954, Walt Disney was made a "Special Agent in Charge Contact" by the FBI, largely an honorary title.

April 1955: Newsweek on Walt Disney's Disneyland

In April 1955, Newsweek called the series Walt Disney's Disneyland an "American institution".

July 1955: Disneyland Opened

In July 1955, Disneyland opened; the opening ceremony was broadcast on ABC, which reached 70 million viewers.

1955: Involvement in "Man in Space" and Lady and the Tramp

In 1955, Walt Disney was involved in the creation of "Man in Space," an episode of the Disneyland series produced in collaboration with NASA's Wernher von Braun. During the same year, he also oversaw aspects of the full-length feature film Lady and the Tramp, noted as the first animated film made in CinemaScope.

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1955: Man of the Year by B'nai B'rith

In 1955, Walt Disney was named "Man of the Year" by the B'nai B'rith chapter in Beverly Hills for exemplifying American citizenship and inter-group understanding.

1955: Audubon Medal

In 1955, the National Audubon Society awarded Walt Disney its highest honor, the Audubon Medal, for promoting the "appreciation and understanding of nature" through his True-Life Adventures nature films.

1956: Order of Merit (Germany)

In 1956, Walt Disney received Germany's Order of Merit.

January 1958: Airing of "Career Day" newsreel segment on The Mickey Mouse Club

In January 1958, a "Career Day" newsreel segment on The Mickey Mouse Club focusing on the FBI aired.

1959: American National Exhibition Consultant

In 1959, Disney was consultant to the American National Exhibition in Moscow. Disney Studios' contribution was America the Beautiful, a 19-minute film in the 360-degree Circarama theater.

1959: Oversight of Sleeping Beauty

In 1959, Walt Disney oversaw aspects of the full-length feature film Sleeping Beauty. This movie was the first animated film created in Technirama 70 mm film.

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1959: Planning the Moscow Fair

In 1959, Walt Disney was involved in planning the Moscow Fair.

February 1960: Hollywood Walk of Fame Induction

In February 1960, Walt Disney was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame with two stars, one for motion pictures and the other for television work.

1960: Winter Olympics Pageantry Committee Chairman

In 1960, Disney acted as the chairman of the Pageantry Committee for the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California, where he designed the opening, closing, and medal ceremonies.

1960: Order of the Crown (Thailand)

In 1960, Walt Disney received Thailand's Order of the Crown.

1960: Planning the Winter Olympics

In 1960, Walt Disney was involved in planning the Winter Olympics.

1961: Unmade Educational Short Warning About Child Molestation

In 1961, Walt Disney collaborated with the FBI on an unmade educational short warning children about the dangers of child molestation.

1961: Oversight of One Hundred and One Dalmatians

In 1961, Walt Disney oversaw aspects of the full-length feature film One Hundred and One Dalmatians. This movie was the first animated feature film to use Xerox cels.

1962: Celebrity Sports Center Sole Owner

In 1962, Disney and Roy bought out the other investors in the Celebrity Sports Center, making the Disney company the sole owner.

1963: Oversight of The Sword in the Stone

In 1963, Walt Disney oversaw aspects of the full-length feature film The Sword in the Stone.

1963: Theme Park Project in St. Louis

In 1963, Walt Disney presented a project to create a theme park in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. He initially reached an agreement with the Civic Center Redevelopment Corp, but the deal later collapsed over funding.

September 14, 1964: Presidential Medal of Freedom

On September 14, 1964, Walt Disney received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States.

1964: Production of Mary Poppins and CalArts Expansion Plans

In 1964, Walt Disney produced Mary Poppins, a film based on the book series by P. L. Travers, for which he had been trying to acquire the rights since the 1940s. It became Disney's most successful film of the 1960s, though Travers disliked the adaptation. Also in 1964, Disney became involved in plans to expand the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and commissioned blueprints for a new building.

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1964: Exhibits for the 1964 New York World's Fair

In 1964, Walt Disney provided four exhibits for the New York World's Fair: It's a Small World for PepsiCo, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Carousel of Progress, and Ford's Magic Skyway. These exhibits were funded by corporate sponsors and featured innovative concepts and technology that were later re-installed in Disneyland.

1964: Release of Mary Poppins

In 1964, Walt Disney released "Mary Poppins", which received five Academy Awards.

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1964: Planning the New York World's Fair

In 1964, Walt Disney was involved in planning the New York World's Fair.

1965: Development of Disney World and EPCOT

In 1965, Walt Disney began developing Disney World, including the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT).

1965: Plans for Disney World Announced

In late 1965, Walt Disney announced plans to develop another theme park called "Disney World" near Orlando, Florida. This project was envisioned to include the Magic Kingdom, golf courses, resort hotels, and the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT).

November 1966: Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer

In early November 1966, Walt Disney was diagnosed with lung cancer and received cobalt therapy. On November 30, 1966, he was taken to St. Joseph Hospital.

December 15, 1966: Walt Disney's Death

On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney passed away. He left behind a significant legacy in the American animation industry and film production.

1966: Cultivation of Businesses for EPCOT and Story Credit in Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.

During 1966, Walt Disney cultivated businesses willing to sponsor EPCOT. Also in 1966, he received a story credit in the film Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. as Retlaw Yensid.

1966: Walt Disney's Death

In 1966, Walt Disney died of lung cancer before the completion of Disney World and the EPCOT project.

1967: Involvement in The Jungle Book and The Happiest Millionaire

In 1967, Walt Disney was heavily involved in the story development of The Jungle Book and The Happiest Millionaire.

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May 24, 1968: Congressional Gold Medal

On May 24, 1968, Walt Disney was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

1968: Involvement in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

In 1968, Walt Disney was heavily involved in the story development of the animated short Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.

1968: Posthumous Academy Award for Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

In 1968, after Disney's death, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day earned him a posthumous Academy Award in the Short Subject (Cartoon) category.

1971: Publication of 'Para leer al Pato Donald'

In 1971, Ariel Dorfman and Armand Mattelart published 'Para leer al Pato Donald' (How to Read Donald Duck), which identified "imperialist values" concealed behind the façade of Walt Disney's world.

PARA LEER AL PATO DONALD (Spanish Edition)

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1971: Dedication of Walt Disney World

In 1971, Roy Disney dedicated Walt Disney World to his brother Walt at the inauguration.

1978: Mickey Mouse's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 1978, Mickey Mouse was given his own star for motion pictures on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1980: Minor Planet Named After Disney

In 1980, minor planet 4017 Disneya, discovered by astronomer Lyudmila Karachkina, was named after Walt Disney.

1982: Opening of Epcot Center

In 1982, Walt Disney World expanded with the opening of Epcot Center, a park that shifted away from Walt Disney's original vision of a functional city toward a more permanent world's fair concept.

1986: Television Hall of Fame Induction

In 1986, Walt Disney was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

1989: Beginning of the "Disney Renaissance" with The Little Mermaid

In 1989, The Little Mermaid marked the beginning of the "Disney Renaissance," reversing a previous trend of declining quality in animated films after Disney's death.

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1993: Report of Disney as an FBI Informant

In 1993, The New York Times reported that Walt Disney had been an FBI informant, passing secret information to J. Edgar Hoover.

1995: Portrayal in 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story'

In 1995, Walt Disney was portrayed by Len Cariou in the made-for-TV film 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story'.

1998: AFI's 100 Greatest American Films List

In 1998, the American Film Institute included 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and 'Fantasia' in its list of the 100 greatest American films.

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2001: Publication of 'Der König von Amerika'

In 2001, German author Peter Stephan Jungk published 'Der König von Amerika', a fictional work reimagining Disney's later years as a power-hungry racist.

2005: Disneyland's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 2005, Disneyland received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

December 2006: California Hall of Fame Induction

In December 2006, Walt Disney was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

2009: Opening of the Walt Disney Family Museum

In 2009, the Walt Disney Family Museum, designed by Disney's daughter Diane and her son Walter E. D. Miller, opened in the Presidio of San Francisco, showcasing artifacts from Disney's life and career.

2013: Portrayal in 'Saving Mr. Banks' and 'The Perfect American'

In 2013, Walt Disney was portrayed by Tom Hanks in the film 'Saving Mr. Banks', and Philip Glass adapted Peter Stephan Jungk's book 'Der König von Amerika' into the opera 'The Perfect American'.