Known for movies

Short Info

DiedApril 14, 2008, Sequim, Washington, United States
SpouseMarie E. Johnston
MarkOften animated female characters or young children
FactFollowing the death of close friend, Frank Thomas, he was the last surviving member of Disney's "Nine Old Men" until he died in 2008 at the age of 97.


Ollie Johnston was born on October 31, 1912, in Palo Alto, California. His parents were both college professors. Johnston had two brothers and one sister. He attended Stanford University, where he studied art and architecture. After graduation, Johnston worked as an animator at the Walt Disney Studios. He was one of the original animators of the 1937 film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Johnston also worked on such classic Disney films as “Pinocchio,” “Fantasia,” and “Bambi.” He retired from the Disney Studios in 1978. Johnston died on April 14, 2008, at the age of 95.

General Info

Full NameOllie Johnston
DiedApril 14, 2008, Sequim, Washington, United States
ProfessionAnimator, Voice Actor
EducationStanford University, Chouinard Art Institute, Palo Alto High School, University of California, Berkeley
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseMarie E. Johnston
ChildrenKen Johnston, Rick Johnston

Accomplishments

AwardsDisney Legends, List of recipients of the National Medal of Arts
MoviesThe Incredibles, The Iron Giant

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Often animated female characters or young children

Quotes

#Quote
1(explaining why he decided to go into animation instead of magazine illustration) I wanted to paint pictures full of emotion that would make people want to read the [magazine] stories. But I found that here [animation] was something that was full of life and movement and action, and it showed all those feelings.

Facts

#Fact
1It wasn't until late in their lives that he and Frank Thomas realized that both of their mothers had come from the same small town, Tuscola, Illinois.
2His son and Frank Thomas' son were born only six days apart.
3When Frank Thomas got hired at Disney, he arranged a tryout for Ollie.
4He is remembered for his close friendship with fellow animator Frank Thomas. They met at Stanford University. During their years at Disney, they were often found teaming together to work on their various assignments. They became known as simply "Frank and Ollie." He and Frank Thomas bought homes close to each other. After their retirement, they continued to work on projects together until Frank passed away in 2004. Ollie would follow in 2008.
5He and fellow Disney "Old Man" Frank Thomas met as art students at Stanford University in the 1930s. They were hired by Disney for $17 a week when he was expanding his studio for feature-length films. Both worked on the first full-length film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937).
6He was especially proud of his work on "Bambi", because it showed that animation could bring strong emotional responses from the audience, just as well as a live-action drama.
7After retiring in 1978, he spoke at schools and film festivals in the US and Europe. He also wrote books about Disney's classic films and the animation process.
8He worked his way through Stanford University by painting and selling landscapes.
9He was a train enthusiast. He built a miniature railroad in his backyard. He also restored and operated a full-size antique locomotive.
10He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005.
11Caricatured as "Rufus the Cat" in The Rescuers (1977).
12Following the death of close friend, Frank Thomas, he was the last surviving member of Disney's "Nine Old Men" until he died in 2008 at the age of 97.
13Ollie Johnston's wife, Marie, was also a Disney employee in the Ink and Paint Department. They were married for 63 years. Marie died in May 2005.
14Ollie and Marie Johnston's two sons are Rick (born in 1949) and Ken (born in 1951).
15Employed at Walt Disney Productions from January 21, 1935 to his retirement on January 31, 1978.
16Was part of the inner circle of Disney animators, known as the "nine old men". The other members were Frank Thomas, Milt Kahl, Marc Davis, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, Ward Kimball, John Lounsbery and Les Clark.

Pictures

Movies

Animation Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
DTV: Golden Oldies1984Video animator
DTV: Pop & Rock1984Video animator
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of ColorTV Series animator - 9 episodes, 1956 - 1964 directing animator - 1 episode, 1982
The Fox and the Hound1981supervising animator
The Rescuers1977directing animator
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh1977animator: "Winnie the Pooh", "Piglet"
The Madcap Adventures of Mr. Toad1975Short animator
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too1974Short directing animator: "Winnie The Pooh" and "Piglet"
Robin Hood1973directing animator
The AristoCats1970directing animator
Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day1968Short directing animator: "Winnie The Pooh" and "Piglet"
The Jungle Book1967directing animator
Mary Poppins1964animator
The Sword in the Stone1963directing animator
101 Dalmatians1961directing animator: "Perdita"
Sleeping Beauty1959directing animator
Lady and the Tramp1955directing animator
Ben and Me1953Short animator: "Ben"
Peter Pan1953directing animator
Susie the Little Blue Coupe1952Short animator
Alice in Wonderland1951directing animator / directing animator: "Alice" and "King of Hearts" - uncredited
Cinderella1950directing animator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad1949directing animator
The Wind in the Willows1949Short character animator
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow1949Short animator
Little Toot1948Short animator
Melody Time1948directing animator
The Legend of Johnny Appleseed1948Short animator
Fun & Fancy Free1947animator - uncredited
Song of the South1946directing animator: "Br'er Rabbit", "Br'er Bear" and "Br'er Fox": Br'er Rabbit Runs Away
Casey at the Bat1946Short animator - uncredited
Peter and the Wolf1946Short animator
Make Mine Music1946animator
The Flying Gauchito1945Short animator - uncredited
The Three Caballeros1944animator
The Pelican and the Snipe1944Short animator
Chicken Little1943Short animator - uncredited
Reason and Emotion1943Short animator: "Miss Reason" and "Miss Emotion", uncredited
Victory Through Air Power1943Documentary animator - as Oliver M. Johnston Jr.
How to Play Baseball1942Short animator: "Goofy"
Bambi1942supervising animator - as Oliver M. Johnston Jr.
Fantasia1940animation supervisor - segment "The Pastoral Symphony", as Oliver M. Johnston Jr.
Pinocchio1940animator - as Oliver M. Johnston
The Pointer1939Short animator: "Mickey looking for Bear" - uncredited
The Practical Pig1939Short animator - uncredited
Mickey's Surprise Party1939Short animator: "Mickey" and "Minnie" - uncredited
Brave Little Tailor1938Short animator - uncredited
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs1937assistant animator - uncredited
Little Hiawatha1937Short assistant animator - uncredited
More Kittens1936Short assistant animator - uncredited
Mickey's Rival1936Short inbetween artist - uncredited
Mickey's Garden1935Short inbetween artist - uncredited
Two-Gun Mickey1934Short inbetween animator - uncredited

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Incredibles2004Additional Voices (voice)
The Iron Giant1999Additional Voices (voice)
I Give My Love1934Art Student (uncredited)

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland1989story consultant - as Oliver Johnston

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation2005Short thanks
The Incredibles2004special thanks
Passing the Baton2003Video documentary short special thanks
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Story Behind the Masterpiece2002Video documentary short thanks
Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': Still the Fairest of Them All2001Video documentary short thanks
Walt: The Man Behind the Myth2001TV Movie documentary grateful acknowledgment
The Fantasia Legacy: The Concert Feature2000Video documentary thanks
Once Upon a Dream: The Making of Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'1997Video documentary short thanks
You Can Fly!: The Making of Walt Disney's Masterpiece 'Peter Pan'1997Video documentary short special thanks
The Chipmunk Adventure1986special thanks
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1981TV Series special thanks - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Picture Perfect: The Making of Sleeping Beauty2008Video documentary shortHimself
The Pixar Story2007DocumentaryHimself
Lady's Pedigree: The Making of 'Lady and the Tramp'2006Video documentaryHimself
Ruff Animation2006Video documentary shortHimself
The Life and Times of Pluto2004Video documentary shortHimself
Passing the Baton2003Video documentary shortHimself
Frank and Ollie... and Mickey2002Video documentary shortHimself
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: The Story Behind the Masterpiece2002Video documentary shortHimself - Animator
Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': Still the Fairest of Them All2001Video documentary shortHimself - Disney Animator
Walt: The Man Behind the Myth2001TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Making of 'Lady and the Tramp II': From Tramp to Scamp2001Video documentary shortHimself - Veteran Animator, 'Lady and the Tramp'
The Fantasia Legacy: The Concert Feature2000Video documentaryHimself - Disney Animator
The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story1999DocumentaryHimself
Once Upon a Dream: The Making of Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty'1997Video documentary shortHimself - Directing Animator
Walt Disney's 'The Jungle Book': The Making of a Musical Masterpiece1997Video documentaryHimself
Frank and Ollie1995DocumentaryHimself
Secret Lives1995TV Series documentaryHimself - Interviewee
The Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic1994TV Movie documentaryHimself
Celebrating Walt Disney's 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs': The One That Started It All1990TV Movie documentaryHimself
It All Started with a Mouse: The Disney Story1989TV MovieHimself - Animator
The South Bank Show1988TV Series documentaryHimself - Animator
The Disney Family Album1985TV Series documentaryHimself
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color1956-1981TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Making of 'Pinocchio': No Strings Attached2009Video documentaryHimself
The 81st Annual Academy Awards2009TV SpecialHimself - In Memoriam
The Bare Necessities: The Making of 'The Jungle Book'2007Video documentary shortHimself
From Walt's Table: A Tribute to Disney's Nine Old Men2005Video documentary shortHimself
A Perfect Fit the Voices of Cinderella2005Documentary shortHimself
Cinderella: Of Mice and Nine Old Men2005Documentary shortHimself
Cinderella That Almost Was2005Documentary shortHimself
Redefining the Line: The Making of One Hundred and One Dalmatians2001Video documentary shortHimself
Walt Disney World Explorer1996Video GameHimself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2001Lifetime Achievement in AnimationSanta Clarita International Film Festival
1995Grand Prix Special des AmériquesMontréal World Film Festival
1986Golden AwardMotion Picture Screen Cartoonists Awards
1980Winsor McCay AwardAnnie Awards

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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