Wilma Baker obit

Wilma Baker, RIP

 

She was not on the list.

Wilma Baker, a Disney veteran who went back to animation's first Golden Age, passed away on September 4 at age 99.

... [Wilma Baker] was hired by Disney in 1937 as part of the final push to finish Snow White. As was standard procedure at the time, she entered the unpaid evening training program and was eventually judged good enough to be hired at $16.00 a week as a painter. In my interview she talks about the type of painting she was doing, including the use of transparent paint. She retired from Disney as head of Final Checking Department in 1983—she gets credit as a final checker on The Black Cauldron, which was released in 1985.

However, as the Animation Renaissance gained steam, she returned to animation, and is listed as a final checker on several major films, including FernGully: The Last Rainforest and Cool World, as well as doing paint markup on The Hunchback of Notre Dame back at Disney. ...

Ms. Baker's first husband was Louis Sammon, who was killed during World War II. She returned to the Studio after the war as a young widow and mother, where she met her second husband, Ted Baker, a studio editor.

After five decades in the animation industry (including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi, and more than a half century later, Hunchback. she retired to Laguna Beach California in the 1990s.

Baker was born on June 24, 1917 in Seattle, Washington, USA. She is known for The Black Cauldron (1985), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992). She was married to Edward Baker III and Lewis A. Salmon. She died on September 4, 2016 in Laguna Beach, California, USA.

Art Department

Kevin Kline, Demi Moore, Tom Hulce, Jason Alexander, Tony Jay, Paul Kandel, Charles Kimbrough, Frank Welker, and Mary Wickes in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).

Mindy Johnson, wrote of Wilma, who was also Mindy's friend:

"Wilma's long career with Disney animation began in 1937 when she was part of the team of women artists working long days and nights, to complete SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS. She also worked on PINOCCHIO, FANTASIA and DUMBO. Wilma returned to the Studio after the war as a young widow and mother, where she met her second husband, Ted Baker, a studio editor. After a nearly 60-year career in animation, Wilma retired to Laguna, but kept in regular contact with her Ink & Paint family. Those who knew her over the years noted Wilma was a talented artist and always a vibrant, contemporary and gracious presence. Wilma passed peacefully on Sunday [the 4th of September], at the age of 99... Godspeed, remarkable Wilma!"

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

7.0

paint mark-up

1996

 

Donald's Better Self (1938)

Donald's Better Self

6.8

Short

painter (uncredited)

1938

 

Animation Department

Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis in FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)

FernGully: The Last Rainforest

6.6

final checker

1992

 

Brad Pitt and Kim Basinger in Cool World (1992)

Cool World

4.8

paint checker

1992

 

Charlie Adler, Wayne Allwine, Tony Anselmo, Arthur Burghardt, and Bill Farmer in The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

The Prince and the Pauper

7.1

Short

final checker

1990

 

Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid

7.6

final checker (uncredited)

1989

 

Bette Midler, Cheech Marin, Roscoe Lee Browne, Billy Joel, Joey Lawrence, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Richard Mulligan in Oliver & Company (1988)

Oliver & Company

6.6

final checker (uncredited)

1988

 

Vincent Price, Val Bettin, Eve Brenner, Candy Candido, Diana Chesney, Barrie Ingham, Melissa Manchester, Susanne Pollatschek, Frank Welker, and Alan Young in The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

The Great Mouse Detective

7.1

final checker (uncredited)

1986

 

Nigel Hawthorne, Grant Bardsley, John Byner, Phil Fondacaro, and Susan Sheridan in The Black Cauldron (1985)

The Black Cauldron

6.3

final checker

1985

 

Wayne Allwine, Dick Billingsley, and Alan Young in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

Mickey's Christmas Carol

8.0

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1983

 

Corey Feldman, Jack Albertson, Pearl Bailey, Richard Bakalyan, Pat Buttram, Candy Candido, Keith Coogan, Clarence Nash, Jeanette Nolan, Paul Winchell, and 'Squeeks' the Caterpillar in The Fox and the Hound (1981)

The Fox and the Hound

7.2

final checker (uncredited)

1981

 

Sean Marshall, Clarence Nash, and Hal Smith in The Small One (1978)

The Small One

7.5

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1978

 

Charlie Callas and Sean Marshall in Pete's Dragon (1977)

Pete's Dragon

6.3

final checker (uncredited)

1977

 

Eva Gabor, Joe Flynn, Jim Jordan, James MacDonald, Bob Newhart, and Geraldine Page in The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers

6.9

final checker (uncredited)

1977

 

Sterling Holloway, John Fiedler, Clint Howard, Barbara Luddy, Junius Matthews, Howard Morris, Bruce Reitherman, Hal Smith, Timothy Turner, Jon Walmsley, Dori Whitaker, Paul Winchell, Ralph Wright, and Connor Quinn in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

7.5

final checker (uncredited)

1977

 

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too (1974)

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too

7.8

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1974

 

Peter Ustinov, Brian Bedford, Pat Buttram, Ken Curtis, Andy Devine, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, Roger Miller, Carole Shelley, and Terry-Thomas in Robin Hood (1973)

Robin Hood

7.5

final checker (uncredited)

1973

 

Angela Lansbury, Dal McKennon, Bob Holt, Cindy O'Callaghan, Roy Snart, David Tomlinson, Ian Weighill, and Lennie Weinrib in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

7.1

final checker (uncredited)

1971

 

Scatman Crothers, Eva Gabor, Sterling Holloway, Hermione Baddeley, Pat Buttram, Dean Clark, Gary Dubin, Liz English, Phil Harris, Lord Tim Hudson, George Lindsey, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Thurl Ravenscroft, Vito Scotti, and Paul Winchell in The Aristocats (1970)

The Aristocats

7.1

final checker (uncredited)

1970

 

Dad... Can I Borrow the Car? (1970)

Dad... Can I Borrow the Car?

6.7

TV Movie

final checker (uncredited)

1970

 

It's Tough to Be a Bird (1969)

It's Tough to Be a Bird

6.7

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1969

 

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968)

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

7.9

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1968

 

The Jungle Book (1967)

The Jungle Book

7.6

final checker (uncredited)

1967

 

Sterling Holloway, Clint Howard, Barbara Luddy, Junius Matthews, Bruce Reitherman, Hal Smith, and Ralph Wright in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966)

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree

8.0

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1966

 

Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins

7.8

final check (uncredited)

1964

 

Junius Matthews, Rickie Sorensen, Karl Swenson, and Martha Wentworth in The Sword in the Stone (1963)

The Sword in the Stone

7.1

final check (uncredited)

1963

 

A Symposium on Popular Songs (1962)

A Symposium on Popular Songs

6.5

Short

xerox (uncredited)

1962

 

The Litterbug (1961)

The Litterbug

6.5

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1961

 

The Saga of Windwagon Smith (1961)

The Saga of Windwagon Smith

6.4

Short

inker (uncredited)

1961

 

Rod Taylor, Sandra Abbott, Cate Bauer, Barbara Beaird, Lisa Daniels, Lisa Davis, David Frankham, Betty Lou Gerson, Mimi Gibson, Barbara Luddy, Mickey Maga, J. Pat O'Malley, Tudor Owen, Thurl Ravenscroft, Rickie Sorensen, Martha Wentworth, Mary Wickes, Frederick Worlock, and Ben Wright in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

7.3

final checker (uncredited)

1961

 

Goliath II (1960)

Goliath II

6.7

Short

final checker (uncredited)

1960

 

Clarence Nash in Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959)

Donald in Mathmagic Land

7.8

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1959

 

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Sleeping Beauty

7.2

final check (uncredited)

1959

 

Paul Bunyan (1958)

Paul Bunyan

6.9

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1958

 

Barbara Luddy and Larry Roberts in Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Lady and the Tramp

7.3

ink and paint (uncredited)

1955

 

Mel Blanc, June Foray, Kathryn Beaumont, Tony Butala, Paul Collins, Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Robert Ellis, Connie Hilton, Margaret Kerry, Tommy Luske, John Wilder, Jeffrey Silver, Stuffy Singer, and Anne Whitfield in Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan

7.3

ink and paint (uncredited)

1953

 

Mel Blanc, Sterling Holloway, Heather Angel, Kathryn Beaumont, Lucille Bliss, Jerry Colonna, Pinto Colvig, Verna Felton, Larry Grey, Richard Haydn, Joseph Kearns, Bill Lee, Queenie Leonard, Doris Lloyd, Tommy Luske, James MacDonald, Marni Nixon, J. Pat O'Malley, Thurl Ravenscroft, Max Smith, Bill Thompson, Dink Trout, Ed Wynn, Norma Zimmer, The Mellowmen Quartet, and Bob Hamlin in Alice in Wonderland (1951)

Alice in Wonderland

7.3

ink and paint (uncredited)

1951

 

Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella

7.3

ink and paint (uncredited)

1950

 

Bing Crosby, Eric Blore, Pinto Colvig, and Clarence Nash in The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

6.8

ink and paint (uncredited)

1949

 

Beulah Bondi, Bobby Driscoll, Burl Ives, and Luana Patten in So Dear to My Heart (1948)

So Dear to My Heart

6.7

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1948

 

Melody Time (1948)

Melody Time

6.1

ink and paint (uncredited)

1948

 

Fun and Fancy Free (1947)

Fun and Fancy Free

6.3

ink and paint (uncredited)

1947

 

Bobby Driscoll, Luana Patten, and Ruth Warrick in Song of the South (1946)

Song of the South

6.9

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1946

 

Make Mine Music (1946)

Make Mine Music

6.1

ink and paint (uncredited)

1946

 

The Three Caballeros (1944)

The Three Caballeros

6.3

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1944

 

Trombone Trouble (1944)

Trombone Trouble

6.7

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1944

 

Home Defense (1943)

Home Defense

6.3

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1943

 

The Old Army Game (1943)

The Old Army Game

6.8

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1943

 

Victory Through Air Power (1943)

Victory Through Air Power

6.4

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1943

 

Fall Out Fall In (1943)

Fall Out Fall In

6.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1943

 

Pluto and the Armadillo (1943)

Pluto and the Armadillo

6.2

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1943

 

Pinto Colvig in Pluto at the Zoo (1942)

Pluto at the Zoo

6.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

The Vanishing Private (1942)

The Vanishing Private

7.1

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

Saludos Amigos (1942)

Saludos Amigos

6.0

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

Bambi (1942)

Bambi

7.3

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1942

 

Donald's Gold Mine (1942)

Donald's Gold Mine

6.8

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

Donald Gets Drafted (1942)

Donald Gets Drafted

6.7

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

Donald's Snow Fight (1942)

Donald's Snow Fight

7.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

Symphony Hour (1942)

Symphony Hour

7.3

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1942

 

The Art of Self Defense (1941)

The Art of Self Defense

6.7

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Chef Donald (1941)

Chef Donald

7.1

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Mel Blanc, Edward Brophy, Cliff Edwards, Verna Felton, Noreen Gammill, Dorothy Scott, Sarah Selby, and Margaret Wright in Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo

7.2

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1941

 

Lend a Paw (1941)

Lend a Paw

6.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Orphans' Benefit (1941)

Orphans' Benefit

6.2

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Canine Caddy (1941)

Canine Caddy

6.3

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Old MacDonald Duck (1941)

Old MacDonald Duck

6.4

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Baggage Buster (1941)

Baggage Buster

6.8

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Golden Eggs (1941)

Golden Eggs

6.5

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

The Little Whirlwind (1941)

The Little Whirlwind

6.6

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Timber (1941)

Timber

7.0

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1941

 

Lee Millar and Lillian Randolph in Pantry Pirate (1940)

Pantry Pirate

6.3

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1940

 

Goofy's Glider (1940)

Goofy's Glider

6.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1940

 

Fantasia (1940)

Fantasia

7.7

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip (1940)

Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip

7.0

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

Window Cleaners (1940)

Window Cleaners

6.9

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1940

 

Donald's Vacation (1940)

Donald's Vacation

7.0

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

Bone Trouble (1940)

Bone Trouble

7.0

Short

ink and paint (uncredited)

1940

 

Mr. Duck Steps Out (1940)

Mr. Duck Steps Out

7.2

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

Tugboat Mickey (1940)

Tugboat Mickey

6.9

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

Mel Blanc, Walter Catlett, Frankie Darro, Cliff Edwards, Dickie Jones, Charles Judels, Clarence Nash, Christian Rub, and Evelyn Venable in Pinocchio (1940)

Pinocchio

7.5

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1940

 

The Autograph Hound (1939)

The Autograph Hound

7.1

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1939

 

The Pointer (1939)

The Pointer

6.7

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1939

 

Donald's Penguin (1939)

Donald's Penguin

6.5

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1939

 

Brave Little Tailor (1938)

Brave Little Tailor

7.5

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1938

 

The Whalers (1938)

The Whalers

6.9

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1938

 

Boat Builders (1938)

Boat Builders

7.1

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1938

 

Lonesome Ghosts (1937)

Lonesome Ghosts

7.5

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1937

 

Roy Atwell, Stuart Buchanan, Adriana Caselotti, Eddie Collins, Pinto Colvig, Billy Gilbert, Otis Harlan, Lucille La Verne, Scotty Mattraw, Harry Stockwell, and George Kiplunks in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

7.6

ink and paint (uncredited)

1937

 

The Old Mill (1937)

The Old Mill

7.7

Short

ink and paint artist (uncredited)

1937

 

The Golden Touch (1935)

The Golden Touch

6.8

Short

painter (uncredited)

1935

 

Self

Behind the Magic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2015)

Behind the Magic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

8.6

TV Movie

Self

2015