Some posts may contain affiliate links which means our team could earn money if you purchase products from our site.
The Disney community is mourning the loss of a true pioneer. Disney Legend Don Iwerks passed away on the evening of July 9 at the age of 96.
Related – Disney Legend and Original Tinker Bell Model Margaret Kerry Passes Away at 97
The son of legendary animator and special effects genius Ub Iwerks, Don built a massive 35-year legacy of his own at Walt Disney Productions. He began his career at the studio in 1950 as a lab technician before serving in the Korean War. Upon his return, he joined the Studio Machine Shop and quickly became one of the company’s most important technical minds.
Don’s work completely changed how guests experience Disney movies and theme parks. He helped develop the revolutionary 360-degree Circle-Vision camera system used for classic attractions like America the Beautiful at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, as well as films for Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
His engineering genius was behind some of Disney’s most iconic attractions and films, including:
- The unique projection system built for the Star Tours attraction
- The specialized cameras and optical printers used to seamlessly blend live-action and animation in Mary Poppins
- The 3-D film and in-theater effects engineered for Captain EO
- Innovative film equipment utilized at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair
In recognition of his massive contributions to film technology, Don received the Gordon E. Sawyer Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1997. He was officially inducted as a Disney Legend at the inaugural D23 Expo in 2009. Today, his handprints rest in Legends Plaza in Burbank, and his name is immortalized alongside his father’s on a Main Street, U.S.A. window at Magic Kingdom that reads “Iwerks–Iwerks Stereoscopic Cameras.”
Following his retirement from Disney, he co-founded Iwerks Entertainment to continue pushing the boundaries of giant-screen and 3D theater experiences.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to his wife, Betty, his children John, Larry, and Leslie, and all of his family and friends during this time.
Let our friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney or Universal Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.
For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube.
