Roger Allers, Co-Director of The Lion King, Dead at 76

""Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come," Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. "He understood the power of great storytelling - how unforgettable characters, emotion and music can come together to create something timeless. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends and collaborators.""

"Born in 1949, Allers saw Peter Pan at age 5, permanently altering the course of his life. A few years later, he sent away for a do-it-yourself animation kit. But after the death of Walt Disney, he abandoned his dream. Allers met his wife Leslee Hackenson in a cave in Greece in the 70s. The pair moved to Boston, where Allers sat in on a Harvard animation class and renewed his passion for the medium. He began working in animation at Lisberger Studios."

Roger Allers died suddenly at age 76 at his Santa Monica home after a brief illness. He co-directed The Lion King with Rob Minkoff, which grossed $979 million in 1994 and became the highest-grossing film of that year. He joined Disney in 1985 as a storyboard artist and contributed to Oliver and Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and led the story team for Beauty and the Beast. He worked on The Lion King from its early conception and later adapted it for the stage, earning a Tony nomination. Early influences included seeing Peter Pan at age five and a Harvard animation class that renewed his passion.

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