Roy E. Disney
Roy Edward Disney KCSG (January 10, 1930 – December 16, 2009[1]) was an American businessman. He was the longtime senior executive for the Walt Disney Company, which was founded by his uncle, Walt Disney, and his father, Roy O. Disney. At the time of his death, he held more than 16 million shares (about 1% of the company),[2] and served as a consultant for the company, as well as director emeritus for the board of directors. During his tenure, he organized ousting of the company's top two executives: Ron W. Miller in 1984 and Michael Eisner in 2005.
Roy E. Disney
December 16, 2009 (aged 79)
Vice chairman, The Walt Disney Company
Chairman, Walt Disney Feature Animation
1951–2009
4, including Abigail Disney
Roy Oliver Disney
Edna Francis Disney
See Disney family
Annie Award (1993)
Disney Legend Award (1998)
Lifetime Achievement Award in Animation (2002)
As the last member of the Disney family to be actively involved in the company, Disney was often compared to his uncle and to his father. In 2006, Forbes magazine estimated his personal fortune at $1.2 billion.[3]
Disney was also a celebrated yachtsman,[4] a member of the San Diego Yacht Club best known for his success in the Transpacific Yacht Race and winning the Newport Bermuda Race.[5] Disney died from stomach cancer on December 16, 2009.
Career[edit]
First "Save Disney" campaign (1984)[edit]
Disney resigned as an executive from Walt Disney Productions in 1977 over disagreements with corporate decisions. He later said, "I just felt creatively the company was not going anywhere interesting. It was very stifling."[6]
Disney retained a seat on the board of directors until 1984, when he resigned in the midst of a corporate takeover battle. This began a series of events that ultimately led to the replacement of Ron Miller (husband of Walt's daughter Diane Marie Disney) by Frank Wells and Michael Eisner as president and CEO, respectively. While investors were attempting the hostile takeover of Disney with the intention of dismantling the company and selling off its assets, Disney and his attorney and financial advisor Stanley Gold organized a consortium of white knight investors to fend off the takeover attempts. With the introduction of Wells and Eisner, Roy returned to the company as vice chairman and chairman of the animation department, which became Walt Disney Feature Animation.[7]
Personal life[edit]
Disney held several sailing speed records, including the Los Angeles to Honolulu monohull time record. He set it on his boat Pyewacket in July 1999 (7 days, 11 hours, 41 minutes, 27 seconds).[19]
On January 19, 2007, after beginning a relationship with Leslie DeMeuse, Disney (then 77 years old) filed for divorce from his wife, Patricia (then 72), citing "irreconcilable differences", according to court documents. The couple, married 52 years, had been living apart, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Court filing. They had four adult children, Abigail Disney, Susan Disney Lord, Tim Disney (a documentary film producer),[20][21][22][23] and Roy Patrick Disney (step-father of Charlee Corra).[24]
In 2008, Disney married DeMeuse, a CSTV producer, and Emmy winner of various sailing documentaries.
Death[edit]
Disney died of stomach cancer on December 16, 2009, 43 years to the day after his uncle died, and 4 days shy of 38 years after his father's death, at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Newport Beach, California. He was 79 years old, and had been battling the disease for over a year. He was cremated after his funeral service, and his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.[1]
Honors[edit]
On January 4, 1998, Pope John Paul II made Disney a Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great.[25]
On January 1, 2000, Disney participated as the grand marshal of the 111th Rose Parade.[26]
On April 26, 2008, Disney received an honorary doctorate from the California Maritime Academy "for his many contributions to the state and the nation, including international sailing."[4]
The animation studio building at the Walt Disney Studios, in Burbank, California, was rededicated as the "Roy E. Disney Animation Building" on May 7, 2010.[27]