Roy Disney Passes Away

After a prolonged battle with stomach cancer, Roy Disney has passed away at the age of 79. The nephew of Walt Disney, Roy started out making nature films and sat on the board of the Disney corporation, eventually overthrowing what he saw as an ineffective management team. After the shakeup, Disney restored the animation department and ushered in a new era of classics, including The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. "It was Roy who was the protector. It was Roy who was the godfather, the champion and believer in it," said a colleague. "Animation doesn't work without someone who believed, and Roy believed." Disney was hands-on in his work with the company, and made frequent appearances at Disney theme parks and events. “His identity is more wrapped up in this company than you can imagine,” said his daughter in a 2004 interview.