The Lion King director is dead
Roger Allers, iconic Disney writer and director, co-directed the huge 1994 hit alongside Rob Minkoff. He died at the age of 76.
Roger Allers, emblematic screenwriter and director of Disney, and above all co-director of Lion King alongside Rob Minkoff, died at the age of 76.
The disappearance of this major architect of the Disney animation renaissance was confirmed by Dave Bossert, visual effects veteran and close friend, in a message published on Facebook.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the departure of our friend Roger Allers for his next trip”he writes.
“We were exchanging emails again last week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss all the more unreal. Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney animation renaissance.”
Made in 1994, The Lion Kingco-directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, remains one of the absolute peaks of Disney’s animated catalog. Carried by the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones (in original version), the film grossed $771 million during its initial theatrical release.
Disney CEO Bob Iger also paid tribute to the filmmaker on Instagram:
“Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations. He understood the power of a great story: the way 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.”
Before and after The Lion Kingfilmmaker Roger Allers had left his mark on many studio classics, notably as screenwriter or storyboard supervisor on Oliver and Company (1988), The Little Mermaid (1989), Bernard and Bianca in the land of kangaroos (1990), Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Aladdin (1992). He also co-directed The Forest Rebels in 2006.
