One of the biggest highlights of the D23 Expo is the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year is getting ready to induct nine new legends. The first award was given out in 1987 to Fred MacMurrary and has since has honored over 276 Legends.  

From the beginning of its live induction ceremony back in 2009, Disney fans have loved seeing the ceremony right in front of their eyes. Disney Chairman and CEO Bill Iger will host the ceremony during this year’s D23 Expo this summer.

D23 Expo: 9 New Honorees

Carrie Fisher

Joined: Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Best Known For: Princess Leia

Contributions: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Scream 3 (2000) and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Other Endeavors: Author, playwright, mental health awareness advocate

Clyde “Gerry” Geronimi

Joined: 1931 at The Disney Studio

Contributions:  Animation Director to more than 50 Disney Shorts and Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphony and Pluto Cartoons

Best Known For: The Three Caballeros, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmations

Other Endeavors: supervising director for 1959’s Sleeping Beauty

Manuel Gonzales

Joined: 1936

Best Known For: head sketch artist for the iconic Mickey Mouse comic strip

Mark Hamill

Joined:  Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Best Known For: Luke Skywalker

Contributions:  Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), ABC’s General Hospital and MTM’s The Texas Wheelers

Other Endeavors:  Voice actor in, Disney’s Miles From Tomorrowland , and Milo Murphy’s Law. and  The Joker in the Batman animated series

Wayne Jackson

Joined: October 1965

Contribution: Disney Imagineer

Best Known For: Audio-Animatronics technology, & helping create the popular Disneyland attractions Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion

Other Endeavors: helping construction and installation of various attractions at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris

Julie Taymor

Joined :1997

Contribution:  filmmaker/ director

Best known for: Broadway ‘s adaptation of The Lion King (1997)

Other Endeavors: directing the upcoming Broadway show M. Butterfly opening later this fall

Oprah Winfrey

Joined: 1986

Contribution: producer, actress, talk-show host, Philanthropist

Best known for:  The Oprah Winfrey Show

Other Endeavors:  produced and starred in Beloved and Women of Brewster Place, Tuesdays with Morrie, Before Women Had Wings, and Their Eyes Were Watching God.  Voice talent in Disney’s The Princess and The Frog (2009), and starring in Disney’s upcoming 2018 film A Wrinkle In Time.

Gary Marshall

Joined: 1970

Contribution: writer and director

Best known for:  The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show, The Odd Couple. Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mark & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi 

Other Endeavors: The Princess Diaries (2001), The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) and appearing in Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain and Hocus Pocus

Stan Lee

 Joined: 1941

Contributions: Writer and producer

Best known for: Iron Man, Spider-man, The Avengers, Captain America, and The Hulk

Other Endeavors: Editorial director of Marvel

There you have it — a little more knowledge of the nine new honorees that will be inducted as Disney Legends.  Don’t miss D23 Expo July 14-16th, 2017.