Disney classic The lion king Co-director Roger Allers has reportedly died.
Producer Dave Bossert announced the director’s death on Sunday in a touching tribute. Allers was 76 years old.
The time and cause of Allers’ death have not yet been revealed, but Bossert revealed in his tribute that he spoke to the late director “last week.”
Speaking about Allers’ contribution to one of the world’s largest media conglomerates, Bossert described him as “the true pillar of the Disney animation renaissance.”
Expressing his sadness and sadness at the news, Bossert began, “Our friend Roger Allers has moved on to his next journey.”
He revealed that while Allers was “traveling in Egypt” they were in contact via email and his friend’s “feeling(s) of loss were unreal.”
“Roger was an extraordinarily talented artist and director, one of the true pillars of the Disney animation renaissance. He started out at Disney conceptualizing every Tron production,” he gushed.
Bossert went on to recall the works he collaborated on with the late director, including: Oliver and company and little mermaid, beauty and the beastOther films, he wrote, “I had the honor of being part of the crew with Roger on many films in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, and he was without a doubt one of the nicest people you could ever hope to know and work with.”
Despite Allers’ “enormous success” as co-director of the popular Disney animated film, Bossuet said it “never crossed his mind.”
“Roger treated everyone with genuine kindness and respect, regardless of job title or position,” he added.
The former Walt Disney Company visual effects supervisor concluded his post by saying: “Roger had a bright, funny spirit, and the world is dull without him. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet again on the other side.”