I read the news today: Ollie Johnston died yesterday.

[addlema]

http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top ... m_no=22932

"April 14, 2008
Ollie Johnston, the last surviving animator of Disney's famed Nine Old Men, passed away today April 14, 2008. Johnston worked for the Mouse House from 1935 to 1978, working as an animator on such classics as SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, FANTASIA, BAMBI and PINOCCHIO. He last worked on THE RESCUERS, a film for which he was caricatured as the cat Rufus.

Along with longtime friend and collaborator Frank Thomas, Johnston co-authored the seminal animation reference book THE ILLUSION OF LIFE, which is used as an animation textbook in schools around the globe. Johnston's friendship and partnership with Thomas was warmly chronicled in the 1995's documentary FRANK AND OLLIE, directed by Frank's son Theodore.

Oliver Martin Johnston Jr. was born in Palo Alto, California, and attended Stanford University, where he met Thomas on the staff of the STANFORD CHAPARRAL humor magazine. Later he would attend the University of California, Berkeley, and Chouinard Art Institute.

He first joined Disney, working on shorts such as MICKEY'S GARDEN and THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE. In 1943, he married Disney ink & paint artist Marie Worthey, who passed away on May 20, 2005.

His lifelong love of trains inspired him to build a scaled railroad and locomotives in his backyard, which inspired the train at Disneyland.

He was named a Disney Legend in 1989, and in 2005, Johnston was one of the recipients of the National Medal of Arts."


The news story says it all. I thought this was front page worthy. This man was one of the ultimate Disney Legends and will be missed.

[skull]

wow... that's really too bad... another great one has passed on

[DisBeamer]

Definitely the end of an era. He certainly had an impressive and influential life, though.

[disneydreamer58]

Now they are all sittin' around with Walt looking down at the Disney empire saying "Don't make me come down there!"

May he rest in peace, he was a great man and had a wonderful full life. How extrodinary to have been one of Walt's originals!

[casrin]

Mom and I saw those two at Disneyland back in 97 and he'd looked rough then.

[WVParkfan]

His lifelong love of trains inspired him to build a scaled railroad and locomotives in his backyard, which inspired the train at Disneyland.

That's interesting. Wasn't that also true of Walt? Didn't he build a railroad in his backyard? Perhaps they shared the same interests, and that's why they worked together. Interesting.

[subsonic]

What a bummer. Though, I never heard of this guy. It is sad to know the final main guy is gone.

I agree with bostoncg. Perhaps they will all come down and drop their wrath on what has become of Disney.

[nancynohorse]

Wow, he just missed making the big 100 too. That's too bad.

[anim8rguy72]

As an animator myself, I've always looked to the greats of the past for inspiration... especially the 9 Old Men. He'll be missed but never truly gone as long as we all continue to enjoy watching the classic Disney features.

[slotofkit]

Wow! It's sad to hear. He will be missed. He did have a great impact on animation.

[secondstar]

Sad. Very sad indeed.

[rudypoo2469]

This is very sad news indeed. May he rest in peace.

[elizabethswann]

I read about this on another site and I was surprised. May he rest in peace knowing that he had such a great impact in history.

[SlueFootSue]

What an amazing person!
Without his animation I know that I wouldn't be who I am today. I mean even this site we all LOVE Disney, and many of the films that touched our lives he worked on!
God Bless you Ollie, and thank you for all the inspiration!!

[GhostHost]

RIP Ollie