Roger Allers, the legendary animator and filmmaker behind some of Disney’s most beloved classics, has passed away at the age of 76 following a brief illness. Disney confirmed that he died at his home in Santa Monica, leaving behind a legacy that shaped generations of childhood memories.

Allers is best known as the co-director of The Lion King (1994), one of the most successful animated films of all time. The movie grossed nearly $1 billion, became the highest-grossing film of its year, and remains the most successful traditionally animated film ever made. Its impact extended beyond cinema, later becoming a Broadway phenomenon that earned Allers a Tony nomination.

Born in 1949 in Rye, New York, Allers studied fine arts before joining Disney during a transformative era for animation. His creative influence can be seen in classics such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company, and The Rescuers Down Under, as well as the groundbreaking sci-fi film Tron.

Beyond Disney, Allers co-directed Open Season, adapted The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, and earned an Academy Award nomination for his short film The Little Matchgirl. His career reflected remarkable versatility across genres and generations.

Disney CEO Bob Iger praised Allers as a visionary storyteller whose work will endure for generations, while colleagues remembered him as curious, kind, and deeply human.

He is survived by his children, Leah and Aidan, and his partner, Genaro. Though he is gone, Roger Allers’ magic lives on—in stories, music, and characters that continue to inspire the world.