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Disney Legend Roger Allers, Co-Director of 'The Lion King,' Dies at 76

Filmmaker Roger Allers, best known as the co-director of Disney's landmark 1994 animated film "The Lion King," has died at the age of 76. His death was announced by his longtime friend Dave Bossert via social media, who praised him as a "true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance." Allers' career included work on classics like "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid," and he later wrote the Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation of "The Lion King." He is survived by his former wife and two children.

Key Points: Roger Allers, Co-Director of The Lion King, Dies at 76

  • Co-directed iconic film The Lion King
  • Worked on Disney classics like Aladdin
  • Helped write Broadway Lion King stage show
  • Career spanned from Tron to Open Season
  • Death announced by friend via Instagram
2 min read

Roger Allers, who helped create 'The Lion King,' dies at 76

Disney animator and filmmaker Roger Allers, co-director of the classic 'The Lion King,' has passed away at age 76, his friend announced.

"Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance. - Dave Bossert"

New York, January 19

Filmmaker Roger Allers, who helped bring some of Disney's most loved animated films to life, has died at the age of 76.

Allers was best known as the co-director of The Lion King, one of the most successful animated movies in history. He also worked on classics like Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under and The Emperor's New Groove.

The news of his death was announced by his longtime friend Dave Bossert through an Instagram post, according to Deadline.

"I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey," he started in the Facebook post.

"We were just trading emails this past week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss feel all the more unreal," added Bossert. "Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance."

According to Deadline, Roger Allers was born on June 29, 1949, in Rye, New York. He grew up in Arizona and studied fine arts at Arizona State University. He first worked on projects like Sesame Street before moving into animated films.

In the 1980s, he worked on Tron and Animalympics and later joined Disney. At Disney, he started as a storyboard artist and slowly became a director. His biggest success came with The Lion King in 1994, which he co-directed with Rob Minkoff. The film won many awards and is still loved by fans around the world.

Allers also wrote the Broadway stage version of The Lion King, which won a Tony Award. After leaving Disney, he worked on films like Open Season and The Prophet.

Roger Allers is survived by his former wife Leslee Hackenson and their two children, Leah and Aidan.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
So sad to hear this. The Lion King's story of family, duty, and redemption always felt universal. It's amazing how these characters became part of our culture too. I remember watching it with Hindi dubbing as a child. A true creative genius.
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Vikram M
He co-directed one of the greatest films ever made. The circle of life philosophy in The Lion King resonates deeply with Indian spiritual thought. His legacy is immortal. Condolences to his family and friends.
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Priya S
Aladdin, Little Mermaid, AND Lion King? That's an incredible portfolio. These films defined a generation. It's a bit sad that the article doesn't go deeper into his creative process, but what a life well lived. 76 is too soon.
R
Rohit P
The man gave us Simba and Mufasa. The father-son scenes still make me emotional. These Disney classics from the 90s had a magic that newer animations sometimes lack. Thank you, Mr. Allers, for the memories.
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Michael C
A giant of animation has fallen. His work transcended borders. It's fascinating that he was in Egypt when he passed. His art truly took him on journeys around the world, much like his stories did for us.

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