George Lucas to be Honored During D23 Expo 2015!

George Lucas

Disney has just announced Star Wars creator George Lucas and seven others Disney Legends to be celebrated in a special awards ceremony hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger on Friday, August 14 in Anaheim…

 

Official press release by Disney:

 

BURBANK, Calif. – July 14, 2015 – Star Wars creator George Lucas, composer Danny Elfman, All My Children star Susan Lucci, Disney Animator Andreas Deja and other beloved contributors to the Disney legacy will be named and honored as official Disney Legends during D23 EXPO 2015 at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 14, in Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center. The ceremony will be hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger, and will include special musical performances.

 

The Disney Legends Awards program is a 28-year tradition of The Walt Disney Company, and the first Disney Legend was Fred MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Happiest Millionaire), who was honored in 1987. The three-day EXPO provides the opportunity for Disney fans to be a part of the memorable and prestigious event.

 

“The Disney Legend Award is our highest honor, and we are incredibly proud to recognize these eight talented individuals who have contributed so much to the world of entertainment and the Disney legacy,” said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “Their vision and dedication to their work have brought joy to audiences around the globe and earned them a place in Disney history.”

 

The 2015 Disney Legend Award honorees (listed alphabetically) are:

 

GEORGE BODENHEIMER, who retired from his role as Executive Chairman of ESPN in May 2014, enjoyed a remarkable 33-year career that began in the company’s mailroom in 1981. Working his way through the ranks, he became executive vice president of sales and marketing in 1996, before being named the network’s fifth president in 1998. He held that role until 2012, when he stepped down from day-to-day operations.

 

ANDREAS DEJA is a link to Disney’s past and one of the greatest animators of its modern era. Deja is known for his rich portraits of villainy, having animated Gaston for Beauty and the Beast, Jafar for Aladdin, and Scar for The Lion King. He has also brought life to heroes such as mighty Hercules, the precocious Lilo (Lilo & Stitch), regal King Triton (The Little Mermaid), wise Mama Odie (The Princess and the Frog), and loveable Tigger (Winnie the Pooh). In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Winsor McCay Award for his contributions to the art of animation.

 

EYVIND EARLE, one of the greatest of Disney artists, brought his unique style to a number of memorable projects but perhaps the purest realization of his vision remains the visual styling and backgrounds for the Disney classic Sleeping Beauty. Earle’s career with Disney began in 1951, working on background artwork for Peter Pan. He created the look of the 1953 animated short Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom, which won an Academy Award® for Best Short Subject, Cartoons in 1954. His most noticeable contribution, however, remains his work on Sleeping Beauty. The film’s eye-catching look, in its design and backgrounds, are the perfect representation of his unique style.

 

DANNY ELFMAN provided the songs and score for The Nightmare Before Christmas, for which he also provided the singing voice of Jack Skellington. He also scored several Disney films including Alice in Wonderland, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Dick Tracy, Dead Presidents, Flubber, Good Will Hunting (Oscar® Nomination: Best Score), A Civil Action, Instinct, Frankenweenie, and Oz the Great and Powerful. Elfman also wrote the theme for ABC’s Desperate Housewives and penned the music for the Mystic Manor attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland. His music is featured in Disneyland’s annual Haunted Mansion Holiday. His upcoming Disney projects include Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass.

 

GEORGE LUCAS, whose Star Wars films made him one of the most successful filmmakers of all time, is also a longtime Disney fan who has left an indelible impression on Disney parks. His first project with Disney was Captain EO, the 1986 3-D spectacular starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Star Tours and Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland, as well as Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril in Disneyland Paris, and two blockbuster Indiana Jones Adventure attractions at Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea round out Lucas’ timeless work in conjunction with Disney.

 

SUSAN LUCCI portrayed Erica Kane on ABC’s fabled soap opera All My Children for 41 years, a role that TV Guide deemed unequivocally the most famous character in the history of daytime television, earning Lucci 21 Daytime Emmy® nominations to which she won the prestigious Emmy for Best Actress to an industry-wide standing ovation on her 19th nomination. Shortly thereafter, she received her Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, presented to her by Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The iconic actress has also appeared on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Hope & Faith, as well as Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven. Lucci currently stars in the international hit Lifetime series, Devious Maids, produced by ABC Studios, as the wealthy and effervescent socialite, Genevieve Delatour.

 

JULIE REIHM CASALETTO, who began her Disney career as a tour guide, became Disneyland’s first Ambassador in 1965—a role created to help Walt, who found it increasingly difficult to attend all the events to which he was invited. As Disneyland’s first Ambassador, she was chosen “as a personification of Disneyland’s world-famous spirit of friendliness and happiness.” She became the template upon which decades of Ambassadors would pattern themselves.

 

CARSON VAN OSTEN helped bring Disney characters to life in a variety of media, all around the world, for three decades. During Van Osten’s tenure, he oversaw creative content for motion picture tie-in advertising, many Disney publications, and also established some of the first licensing style guides for Disney Consumer Products. The talented artist designed logos for Mickey Mouse’s 50th and 60th birthdays, the Walt Disney Studios logo and water tower design, and the Disneyland Hotel clock tower “Mickey” logo in Paris.

 

Each honoree receives a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the Company. Disney Legends Award recipients will also participate in a handprint ceremony at the end of the event, and their bronzed prints will be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza at the Company’s Burbank headquarters.
Admission to the ceremony will be on a first-come, first-served basis and is included in the price of a ticket to D23 EXPO 2015.

 

Including this year’s honorees, a total of 257 Disney Legends have been named. Past Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Robin Williams, Julie Andrews, Howard Ashman, Regis Philbin, Annette Funicello, Peter Jennings, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Sir Tim Rice, Dick Van Dyke and Barbara Walters. With the inaugural D23 EXPO in 2009, thousands of Disney fans were able to enjoy the Legends Awards ceremony for the first time. Honorees that year included Robin Williams, Beatrice Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, Tony Anselmo, Bill Farmer, Harry Archinal, Don Iwerks, and Leota Toombs Thomas.

 

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are $74 for a one-day adult admission and $54 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $65 for a one-day adult admission and $48 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $112 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

 

 

Congratulations George! We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. Thank you!

 

Website | + posts

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

41 thoughts on “George Lucas to be Honored During D23 Expo 2015!

  • July 14, 2015 at 7:31 pm
    Permalink

    Well, he’s sure having a blast in that photo

    • July 14, 2015 at 9:35 pm
      Permalink

      ikr, I’ve seen this picture a few times and it’s still hilarious every time.

    • July 15, 2015 at 12:17 am
      Permalink

      hahaha, he doesn’t at all does he

  • July 14, 2015 at 7:46 pm
    Permalink

    Danny Elfman is being honored and there’s no mention of Oingo Boingo in his credits? Blasphemy I tell you!

  • July 14, 2015 at 8:12 pm
    Permalink

    Star Wars is owned buy Disney now???

    • July 14, 2015 at 8:26 pm
      Permalink

      Welcome to the real world, matrix user…

    • July 14, 2015 at 8:41 pm
      Permalink

      where have you been the last 3 years??

      • July 14, 2015 at 8:46 pm
        Permalink

        Even my grandma knows that Disney owns Star Wars.

    • July 14, 2015 at 11:46 pm
      Permalink

      Star Wars is owned. Buy Disney now!!!
      🙂

    • July 15, 2015 at 2:27 pm
      Permalink

      Some people pick up on sarcasm…others don’t…it’s okay. 🙂

  • July 14, 2015 at 8:51 pm
    Permalink

    CEO Bob Iger is the one who was bold enough approve to produce Twin Peakes when he was exec of ABC.
    I hope he let Lucasfilm has the same amount of artistic freedom as he let David Lynch had with Twin Peakes
    My concern is TFA , Rouge One , Han Solo spinoff are depending on so much nostalgy business , not pushing the envelop of franchise possibility.

    • July 14, 2015 at 9:11 pm
      Permalink

      Star Wars intends on being around for a long time. Sooner or later, I imagine they’ll start to push the envelope more.

      For now, I prefer they start with the familiar.

    • July 14, 2015 at 9:51 pm
      Permalink

      He believes that it should start with something familiar before expanding, its a way to help people learn more about the characters that they become invested in.

  • July 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm
    Permalink

    Good god, i thought that was Howard the duck in the photo for a moment.

  • July 14, 2015 at 11:39 pm
    Permalink

    Maybe D23 is not for me! Goofy as Darth Vader, Daffy Duck as Stormtrooper, Pluto as Astromech prequels, Mickey Mouse as Obi-Wan … no Ben Kenobi, seeing a possible Mini Mouse as ANH Princess Leia!? Okay George Lucas celebrating the Mickey Mouse club as Disney’s best animation efforts!? It reminded me of George Lucas’ comments to “the aged SW fan, saying, “I am already rich and don’t care what people think about my movies … I make movies according to what the people want (!?) Not what Hollywood dictates!”

    We had a relatible story with Luke Skywalker and his, psychologically healthy to turn into an adult, tangeant disobedience to his guardians! We don’t tolerate any such 9 year old child, such as young Anakin’s story, to become a necessary “twist” to the Oliver Twist orphanage or child adoption premise, anymore as moral parents of society! George Lucas has to, yet, go for a target audience that should have died out in moral society well over 50 years ago! In times of peace, the U.S. military will not consider acceptance until, at least Luke Skywalker’s age. Why not deal with a MA target audience, again, because that is what war concepts are! DISNEY SHOULD NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AND MAKE MOVIES ONLY FOR THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB! I WISH AMONG THAT CASTLE’S FALLING STAR!

    • July 14, 2015 at 11:56 pm
      Permalink

      ?? lighten up francis

    • July 15, 2015 at 12:57 am
      Permalink

      …This picture is ages old.

    • July 15, 2015 at 2:21 pm
      Permalink

      Daffy??!!! lol

  • July 15, 2015 at 12:40 am
    Permalink

    Donald – The original Ducktrooper.

  • July 15, 2015 at 12:41 am
    Permalink

    You know you’re in good company when Susan Lucci is also winning…

  • July 15, 2015 at 2:52 am
    Permalink

    It’s about damn time.

  • July 15, 2015 at 2:57 am
    Permalink

    lol he’s got this bored “Kill me” face.

  • July 15, 2015 at 4:09 am
    Permalink

    Was $4 billion really worth posing for that photo?

  • July 15, 2015 at 5:31 am
    Permalink

    That picture is just perverse. Just because Disney owns Star Wars doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to mix the two.

    • July 15, 2015 at 9:28 am
      Permalink

      Tell that to Lego. And Angry Birds. And Phineas and Ferb. Actually, yeah, this is MORE perverse.

  • July 15, 2015 at 7:28 am
    Permalink

    The legacy of GL, one word. ILM. He changed the face of movie industory for better or worse.

  • July 15, 2015 at 2:08 pm
    Permalink

    I’m happy to see some comments deleted. The amount of hate dropped to George Lucas is so lame and so contradictory with the act of visiting a Star Wars news site, that there’s just no place for it. I openly criticize the prequels and we have quite “exciting” discussions in this posts, but naming “piece of garbage” to any individual is just unacceptable, and it’s worse when this individual is George Lucas.

    • July 15, 2015 at 3:05 pm
      Permalink

      Soon we will be removing the Anonymous option.

      • July 15, 2015 at 4:13 pm
        Permalink

        It would be cool to link our comments on here with our Cantina handles. I’m typing in hard case every time I comment. I use the same name in the cantina. Just a recommendation, if that’s something that’s possible to do.

        • July 15, 2015 at 4:45 pm
          Permalink

          That’s what we’re doing. Unfortunately it’s not that easy.

          • July 15, 2015 at 5:39 pm
            Permalink

            Awesome. I appreciate all the effort put into this site by the staff. This is the only site I even use for Star Wars news. You guys are like the People magazine of SW news. If I don’t read it here…I don’t give it much thought. I love how you are never satisfied with how we as fans experience this site. It’s great as is, but I enjoy that it’s an ever-improving venture. The Cantina is the best thing about SW7N…the community it has created and sustained is astounding to me. I’m also an avid Marvel Comics and Walking Dead fan as well (although my fandom in those areas pales in comparison to my love for Star Wars), and there is just nothing like SW7N for these properties. Sure, there are forums and such…but you guys have really broken ground with this site and the Cantina as far as giving the fanbase a real voice. All we need is an android/ios app. 🙂 Thanks again.

          • July 15, 2015 at 6:22 pm
            Permalink

            I’m agree with Hard Case, this is a lot of fun. For years I’ve been visiting JediNews and TFN, and now this is the first one. Thank you guys!

          • July 15, 2015 at 9:06 pm
            Permalink

            Me too. this is the first site i go to everyday. its like my morning routine. i love the organized way its layed out and very simple. its not flashy and annoying. thank u for all your hard work

  • July 15, 2015 at 2:33 pm
    Permalink

    This is not a reply to one particular comment, but I just have to put it out there as I have seen it time after time…What is this Rouge One movie coming out? People keep talking about Rouge One…Is it a French film about the leader of Red Squadron? Is it a prequel to Moulin Rouge? What kind of movie are we dealing with here? 😉

      • July 15, 2015 at 4:09 pm
        Permalink

        That video is about Rogue One, the first Star Wars Anthology Film…I’m talking about Rouge One. 😉

        • July 15, 2015 at 5:33 pm
          Permalink

          Lol then you got me! And I don’t know where Rouge One comes from 😉

  • July 15, 2015 at 4:22 pm
    Permalink

    That picture is comedy gold! Lucas is hating life right about then.

  • July 15, 2015 at 9:07 pm
    Permalink

    lucas thinking… this deal is getting worse all the time!

  • July 15, 2015 at 9:08 pm
    Permalink

    hes begging for a little piece of boba lol

  • July 15, 2015 at 9:13 pm
    Permalink

    At last we’ll make a toast to master himself Mr. George Lucas, otherwise all this ride wouldn’t be possible without him!…

Comments are closed.

LATEST POSTS ON MOVIE NEWS NET