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.
