Disney animator Harry Holt dies April 14, 2004

Tony P. IL.

<a href="http://www.wdwinfo.com/dis-sponsor/index.
Joined
Aug 31, 1999
Messages
179
From the Hollywoodreporter:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000495091
April 23, 2004


Disney animator Harry Holt dies


By Reuters
CASSELBERRY, Fla. -- Harry Holt, a former Disney animator who helped design legendary scenes in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and "Lady and the Tramp," has died. Holt, 93, died April 14.

Holt's career with Disney began in 1936, when he applied to become an artist. To test his skills, he was told to take the major Disney characters and write and illustrate a scenario for each in comic-strip style. After two weeks of training, he began as an apprentice and quickly worked his way to playing a role in the development of Snow White.

He remained with Disney for 20 years until he left to work in television production and art direction. After a couple of years in Chicago, he moved back to Los Angeles and joined Hanna-Barbera Studios, where he worked on the Flintstones TV series and Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Holt returned to Disney in the 1960s as plans were being developed for Walt Disney World in Orlando.


Holt became chief designer, assigned to interpret and design sculptural forms for Disney World. He sculpted the original models of characters for several rides including Pirates of the Caribbean. Those models were then used as references for the sculpture department to create life-size animatronic characters. Other attractions based on his models were Country Bear Jamboree, Snow White, Peter Pan and the Haunted Mansion.

Before retiring in the early 1990s, he greeted guests at the Disney/MGM Studio Preview Center in Orlando and signed replicas of his Disney character sketches.

"Disney was his life," said Barbara Holt, his wife.
 
Wow, thankyou for this information. My husband filmed me talking to him while he finished a sketch of Bambi for us. This was at the MK in 1994 and it was so fun meeting him. He asked where I was from and when I told him we were from Minnesota he mocked a shiver and said being cold was NOT his favorite feeling! :p

Sad to know another Disney icon is gone. :(

Thanks again.....
 
:( One more of the Disney legends gone. I sure hope he's having a good old time up in animator heaven with his old friends.:D
 
Amazing, I was wondering if he was still alive. When dh and I were there on our honeymoon in 1993, he signed three or four of his sketches for us. We stood in line several times that trip.
 













Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE











DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom