Walter Elias Disney, Born 5 December 1901, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American entrepreneur, animator, and entertainment pioneer. He co-founded The Walt Disney Company, creating some of the world's most beloved animated characters, including Mickey Mouse. Disney's innovative storytelling and business acumen revolutionized animation and family entertainment.
Family Tree
Kepple Disney
Mary Richardson Disney
Jean Elias
Maria Swan Elias
Elias Disney
Flora Call Disney
Walt Disney
%% Mermaid JS Diagram with Subgraphs for Husband, Wives, and Children
graph LR
%% Subgraph for Husband
subgraph Husband
H[Walt Disney]
end
%% Subgraph for Wife 2 and her children
subgraph Wife and Childrens
W1[Lillian Bounds]
W1 --> C1[Diane Disney Miller]
end
%% Connections between groups
H --> W1
%% Styling Classes
classDef male fill:#ADD8E6,stroke:#000,stroke-width:1px
classDef female fill:#FFB6C1,stroke:#000,stroke-width:1px
%% Apply Classes
class H male
class W1,C1 female
Relatives
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Walter Elias Disney |
| Father | Elias Disney |
| Mother | Flora Call Disney |
| Siblings | Roy O. Disney, Ruth Disney, Raymond Disney, Herbert Disney |
| Spouses | Lillian Bounds (Married in 1925) |
| Children | Diane Disney Miller, Sharon Mae Disney (adopted) |
| Grandparents | Kepple Disney, Mary Richardson Disney, Jean Elias, Maria Swan Elias |
| Notable Relatives | Roy O. Disney (Brother and co-founder of Disney Company) |
Personal Life Milestones
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| December 5, 1901 | Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to Elias and Flora Disney. |
| 1919 | Began his career as a commercial artist after serving as an ambulance driver in World War I. |
| 1923 | Founded the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother Roy O. Disney in Hollywood, California. |
| 1928 | Created Mickey Mouse, debuting in the cartoon Steamboat Willie, which became a cultural icon. |
| 1937 | Released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the first full-length animated feature film. |
| 1940 | Opened Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, marking a new era in animation and film. |
| 1941 | Married Lillian Bounds, with whom he had two daughters, Diane and Sharon. |
| 1955 | Opened Disneyland, the first-ever theme park, in Anaheim, California. |
| 1964 | Released Mary Poppins, blending live-action and animation, earning critical and commercial acclaim. |
| 1965 | Began plans for Disney World and EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) in Florida. |
| December 15, 1966 | Passed away in Burbank, California, from lung cancer at age 65. |
| Legacy | Left an enduring legacy as a pioneer in animation, storytelling, and theme park design. |