Disney Animation Trailblazer Roger Allers Dies at 76
Roger Allers, Oscar- and Tony-nominated co-director of Disney's The Lion King, died at 76 in Santa Monica after a short illness. A Rye, New York native and ASU alum, Allers steered The Lion King with Rob Minkoff and contributed to classics like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, while helping develop CGI work on Tron. His later credits included Open Season (co-director) and The Prophet, and he earned a 1998 Tony nomination for The Lion King Broadway musical and an Oscar nomination for The Little Matchgirl. Disney CEO Bob Iger publicly praised his storytelling. He is survived by his children Leah and Aidan and his partner Genaro.
