Walt Disney is famous around the world for his immense contributions to animation and entertainment. He was a pioneering film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, and entrepreneur who co-founded The Walt Disney Company. His creativity and vision created some of the most beloved animated characters and stories in history.

Childhood and education ​He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1901. His childhood was spent on a farm near Marceline, Missouri. ​He attended McKinley High School in Chicago, where he studied drawing and photography. He also took night classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. ​Achievements ​He was a very successful film-maker, who created iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy. He produced the first-ever full-length animated feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937, which pioneered a new era of animation. Other notable films he created include Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. ​Apart from making films, he was also famous for creating the first-ever Disneyland theme park in California in 1955. This launched a new type of entertainment experience and laid the groundwork for the modern theme park industry. The Walt Disney Company also pioneered the use of merchandising, with products like toys and books featuring his characters. ​Family ​He had four brothers and one sister. He and his wife, Lillian, had two children, both daughters: Diane Marie Disney and Sharon Mae Disney (adopted). ​Death and the continued success of The Walt Disney Studios ​He died in 1966 due to lung cancer. Following his death, his brother Roy O. Disney took over the company. While the animation sector experienced a decline in profits for a period, it was later revitalized during the "Disney Renaissance" of the late 1980s and 1990s. The company continued to expand, acquiring other major entertainment studios and evolving into the global media conglomerate it is today.