Roger Allers obit

 

Roger Allers Dies: ‘The Lion King’ Co-Director Was 76; Bob Iger Pays Tribute To “Creative Visionary”

He was not on the list.

Roger Allers, the Disney Animation filmmaker known for The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and more, has died. He was 76.

Producer and frequent collaborator Dave Bossert shared the news of Allers’ death in a statement on Sunday morning. “I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey,” he started in the Facebook post.

“We were just trading emails this past week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss feel all the more unreal,” added Bossert. “Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.”

Bossert noted that Allers got his start at Disney as part of the storyboard team on Tron (1982), also working on Oliver & Company (1988) and The Little Mermaid (1989) before becoming head of story on Beauty and the Beast (1991).

“I had the privilege of being part of the crew with Roger on many films in the late ’80s and throughout the ’90s,” noted Bossert. “And he was, without question, one of the kindest people you could hope to know and work alongside. He went on to co-direct The Lion King, a phenomenal success, yet it never went to his head.

“Roger treated everyone with genuine kindness and respect, regardless of title or position. I worked very closely with him on The Little Matchgirl, and it was nothing short of a joy—he carried a sense of wonder, generosity, and enthusiasm that lifted everyone around him. Roger had a joyful, luminous spirit, and the world is dimmer without him. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet again on the other side,” he added.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, “Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come. He understood the power of great storytelling — how unforgettable characters, emotion, and music can come together to create something timeless. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and collaborators.”

Born June 29, 1949 in Rye, New York, Allers grew up in Arizona, where he received a fine arts degree from Arizona State University before getting a job with Lisberger Studios, working on Sesame Street and other projects.

Allers relocated to Los Angeles to work on the 1980 animated feature Animalympics with director Steven Lisberger, before working on Tron. He also spent time in Tokyo while working on Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989).

Upon his 1985 return to LA, Allers got his start with Disney as a storyboard artist on films like Oliver & Company, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under and The Prince and The Pauper, before serving as a co-director with Rob Minkoff on The Lion King (1994), earning them the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. Allers also wrote The Lion King‘s 1998 Tony-winning Broadway adaptation.

Also during his Disney tenure, Allers worked on The Emperor’s New Groove, Lilo & Stitch and The Little Matchgirl. He then co-directed Open Season with Jill Culton for Sony, also helming 2014’s The Prophet.

Allers is survived by ex-wife Leslee Hackenson, their daughter Leah and son Aidan.

 

Director

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (2015)

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection

7.6

Video

directed by (segment "The Little Matchgirl")

2015

 

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet (2014)

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

7.1

Director

2014

 

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animation (2007)

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Short Films: Animation

6.0

segment

2007

 

Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Cody Cameron, and Maddie Taylor in Open Season (2006)

Open Season

6.1

Director

2006

 

The Little Matchgirl (2006)

The Little Matchgirl

7.8

Short

directed by

2006

 

100 Greatest Cartoons (2005)

100 Greatest Cartoons

7.0

TV Special

Director

2005

 

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (2001)

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

Video Game

series director

2001

 

Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones in The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King

8.5

directed by

1994

 

Writer

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection (2015)

Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection

7.6

Video

story adaptation by (segment "The Little Matchgirl")

2015

 

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet (2014)

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

7.1

screenplay by

2014

 

The Little Matchgirl (2006)

The Little Matchgirl

7.8

Short

story adaptation by

2006

 

Nathan Lane in The Lion King 1½ (2004)

The Lion King 1½

6.5

Video

additional screenplay material

2004

 

Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez in Brother Bear (2003)

Brother Bear

6.9

story (uncredited)

2003

 

David Spade in The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

The Emperor's New Groove

7.4

based on an original story by

2000

 

Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1994)

Disney's Beauty and the Beast

5.9

Video Game

based on story by

1994

 

Robin Williams, Jonathan Freeman, Gilbert Gottfried, Linda Larkin, Douglas Seale, Scott Weinger, and Frank Welker in Aladdin (1992)

Aladdin

8.0

story

1992

 

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

story

1988

 

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

character developmentstory

1980

 

Animation Department

Odyssey Into the Mind's Eye (1996)

Odyssey Into the Mind's Eye

7.2

Video

character designer

1996

 

The Gate to the Mind's Eye (1994)

The Gate to the Mind's Eye

7.2

Video

animation director

1994

 

Beyond the Mind's Eye (1992)

Beyond the Mind's Eye

7.4

Video

layout artist

1992

 

The Mind's Eye (1990)

The Mind's Eye

7.7

Video

background artist

1990

 

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989)

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

7.1

animator (uncredited)

1989

 

Rock & Rule (1983)

Rock & Rule

6.4

animator

1983

 

A Room Full of Energy

Short

animator

1982

 

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

animator

1980

 

Dirty Duck (1974)

Dirty Duck

5.2

character designer

1974

 

Art Department

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Waking Sleeping Beauty

7.5

caricaturist

2009

 

Martin Lawrence, Ashton Kutcher, Billy Connolly, Jon Favreau, Cody Cameron, and Maddie Taylor in Open Season (2006)

Open Season

6.1

storyboard artist (uncredited)

2006

 

Timeless Tales (2005)

Timeless Tales

8.3

Video

storyboard artist (segment "The Prince and The Pauper")

2005

 

Countdown to Christmas (2002)

Countdown to Christmas

6.6

Short

storyboard artist (segment "The Prince and the Pauper")

2002

 

Jenny Agutter, Brian Blessed, Ben Kingsley, Phyllis Logan, Victor Maddern, John Sessions, and Billie Whitelaw in Freddie as F.R.O.7. (1992)

Freddie as F.R.O.7.

5.2

graphic designer

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

storyboard artist

1990

 

Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart, Tristan Rogers, Adam Ryen, and Frank Welker in The Prince and the Pauper (1990)

The Rescuers Down Under

6.8

storyboard artist

1990

 

Jodi Benson in The Little Mermaid (1989)

The Little Mermaid

7.6

storyboard artist (uncredited)

1989

 

Tron (1982)

Tron

6.7

pre-production concepts

1982

 

Additional Crew

Nathan Lane in The Lion King 1½ (2004)

The Lion King 1½

6.5

Video

additional screenplay material

2004

 

Chris Sanders in Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Lilo & Stitch

7.4

additional story supervisor

2002

 

Robby Benson and Paige O'Hara in Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Beauty and the Beast

8.0

story supervisor

1991

 

Art Director

Animalympics (1980)

Animalympics

6.8

Art Director

1980

 

Soundtrack

The Sweatbox (2002)

The Sweatbox

7.1

performer: "Walk the Llama Llama" (2000) (uncredited)

2002

 

Thanks

Tiana

special thanks

In Development

 

John Kani, Seth Rogen, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Billy Eichner, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Blue Ivy Carter, and Aaron Pierre in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)

Mufasa: The Lion King

6.6

the filmmakers would like to thank

2024

 

James Earl Jones, Kathy Griffin, Alfre Woodard, Scott Adsit, Carlos Alazraqui, Kristen Alderson, Kristen Ariza, Michael Beattie, Bob Bergen, Sebastian Cavazza, Cedric The Entertainer, Dane Cook, Walt Dohrn, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Penny Johnson Jerald, John Kani, Florence Kasumba, Beyoncé, Phil LaMarr, Danny Mann, Mike Mitchell, Don Rickles, Seth Rogen, Amy Sedaris, Peter Sohn, Aron Warner, Christopher Knights, John Oliver, Keegan-Michael Key, Will.i.am, Kristen DeLuca, Christopher Lee Parson, J. Lee, Donald Glover, Eric André, Billy Eichner, Teri Reeves, Ryan Potter, Chance the Rapper, Kristen Phaneuf, JD McCrary, Josh McCrary, and Shahadi Wright Joseph in The Lion King (2019)

The Lion King

6.8

the filmmakers would like to thank

2019

 

The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows (2017)

The 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows

6.4

special thanks

2017

 

18th Annual Animation Show of Shows (2016)

18th Annual Animation Show of Shows

6.7

special thanks

2016

 

Mario Cantone, Zooey Deschanel, Shia LaBeouf, and Jon Heder in Surf's Up (2007)

Surf's Up

6.7

special thanks

2007

 

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast (2002)

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast

8.7

Video

thanks

2002

 

Tale as Old as Time: The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast'

8.1

Video

thanks

2002

 

Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Bruno Miguel, and Ernie Sabella in The Lion King (1994)

The Lion King

7.8

Video Game

special thanks

1994

 

Elton John: Circle of Life (1994)

Elton John: Circle of Life

7.2

Music Video

special thanks

1994

 

Elton John: Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1994)

Elton John: Can You Feel the Love Tonight

7.2

Music Video

special thanks

1994

 

Self

Howard (2018)

Howard

7.5

Self

2018

 

Collector's Café

Video

Self - Guest

2016

 

Variety Studio (2010)

Variety Studio

7.0

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Jambareeqi Reviews (2012)

Jambareeqi Reviews

7.2

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Food Network Challenge (2003)

Food Network Challenge

7.1

TV Series

Self - Guest Judge

2011

1 episode

 

Greatest Ever 80s Movies (2007)

Greatest Ever 80s Movies

6.1

TV Movie

Self

2007

 

The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

The 79th Annual Academy Awards

7.1

TV Special

Self

2007

 

Film '72 (1971)

Film '72

7.0

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' (2006)

Treasures Untold: The Making of Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'

8.3

Video

Self

2006

 

Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies (2006)

Greatest Ever Blockbuster Movies

7.8

TV Movie

Self

2006

 

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast (2002)

Disney's Animation Magic: Beauty and the Beast

8.7

Video

Self - Director, 'The Lion King'

2002

 

Tale as Old as Time: The Making of 'Beauty and the Beast'

8.1

Video

Self - Head of Story

2002

 

The Sweatbox (2002)

The Sweatbox

7.1

Self

2002

 

The Making of 'Tron' (2002)

The Making of 'Tron'

7.4

Video

Self

2002

 

The 52nd Annual Tony Awards (1998)

The 52nd Annual Tony Awards

5.7

TV Special

Self - Nominee

1998

 

The 67th Annual Academy Awards (1995)

The 67th Annual Academy Awards

6.0

TV Special

Self - Winner

1995

 

Troldspejlet (1989)

Troldspejlet

8.8

TV Series

Self - Director

1994

1 episode

 

The Making of the Lion King (1994)

The Making of the Lion King

7.8

TV Movie

Self

1994

 

E! Behind the Scenes (1991)

E! Behind the Scenes

TV Series

Self - Interviewee

1994

1 episode

 

Howard Ashman in The Making of Beauty and the Beast (1991)

The Making of Beauty and the Beast

8.3

TV Movie

Self

1991

 

Archive Footage

Beware the Groove: The Making of A Cult Classic (2023)

Beware the Groove: The Making of A Cult Classic

Self (archive footage)

2023

 

Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)

Waking Sleeping Beauty

7.5

Self (archive footage, voice)

2009