Don Lusk

Donald R. "Don" Lusk
Born(1913-10-28)October 28, 1913
Burbank, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 2018(2018-12-30) (aged 105)
San Clemente, California, U.S.
OccupationsAnimator, director
Years active1933–1993
Employer(s)Walt Disney Productions (1933–1961)
Walter Lantz Productions (1960–1961)
Hanna-Barbera (1961–1993)
Grantray-Lawrence Animation (1966)
Bill Melendez Productions (1969-1977)
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (1972)
Children2
AwardsWinsor McCay Award (2014)

Donald Ross "Don" Lusk (October 28, 1913 – December 30, 2018)[1] was an American animator and director,[2][3][4]

Lusk joined Walt Disney Productions in 1933 and remained there until 1960, animating on most of the studio's features of the period, among them Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He interrupted that work to serve in the United States Marine Corps animation unit during World War II.[1][5]

After leaving Disney he worked briefly for Walter Lantz Productions and then moved into direction, working on the Peanuts television specials for Bill Melendez and, from 1961, at Hanna-Barbera, where he directed episodes of series including The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and The Smurfs. He received the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement in 2014 and, by the time of his death at 105, was the last surviving animator from Disney's golden age.[2][6]

Early life

Donald Ross Lusk was born on October 28, 1913, in Burbank, a suburb of Los Angeles, California to Perceval Knox Lusk and Louise Opie Ross Parrish, who were married in 1908 in California.[7] He served in the United States Marine Corps for three years, during World War II, in its newly created Animation Unit.[1][8]

Career

Lusk was hired by The Walt Disney Company in 1933 as an Inbetweener.[9] His first film as an animator was 1938's Ferdinand the Bull adapted from 1936's The Story of Ferdinand by author Munro Leaf.[10] He worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia (The Nutcracker Suite and The Pastoral Symphony Segments), Bambi, Song of the South, Melody Time, So Dear to My Heart, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.[5][11]

Lusk left Disney in 1960, but continued to work as an animator during the 1960s and 1970s. During the early 1960s, he worked at Walter Lantz Productions under Jack Hannah's unit. Aside from animation, Lusk also directed multiple cartoon films and series, including the Peanuts TV specials and movies and for the Hanna-Barbera studio. His work at the latter included The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, and Tom and Jerry.[12] His Peanuts credits as a director include It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.[9]

In the early 1990s, Lusk retired after a career which spanned some 60 years.[13]

Recognition

In 2014 Lusk was one of three recipients of the Winsor McCay Award, the animation industry's lifetime achievement award, presented at the 42nd Annie Awards alongside Didier Brunner and Lee Mendelson.[6]

Personal life and death

Lusk married Marge Lusk, who worked in the Personnel Department of Disney Studios in Burbank. The couple had two children. He died on December 30, 2018, in San Clemente, California, aged 105.[1] Long time friend, Navah-Paskowitz Asner, announced the news of his death on social media.[9]

Filmography

As animator (Walt Disney Productions)

Year Title Credits Characters
1940PinocchioAnimator
FantasiaAnimator - Segments "The Nutcracker Suite" and "The Pastoral Symphony"
1942BambiAnimator
1946Song of the SouthAnimator
1948Melody TimeCharacter Animator
1949So Dear to My HeartAnimator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. ToadCharacter Animator
1950CinderellaCharacter Animator
1951Alice in WonderlandCharacter Animator
1952Lambert the Sheepish Lion (Short)Animator
Trick or Treat (Short)Animator
1953Peter PanCharacter Animator
Ben and Me (Short)Animator
1955Lady and the TrampCharacter Animator
1959Sleeping BeautyCharacter Animator
1954-1959The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)Animator – 5 Episodes
1961One Hundred and One DalmatiansCharacter Animator
2002Mickey's House of Villains (Video)Animator - Segment "Trick or Treat"

As director (selected)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Barlett, Rhett (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Animator on 'Pinocchio,' 'Fantasia' and Charlie Brown Specials, Dies at 105". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Valence Media). Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Amidi, Amid (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Last Living Disney Animator Of Golden Age, Dies At 105". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Famed Disney Animator Don Lusk Dies at 105". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Don Lusk, Last Surviving Disney Golden Age Animator, Passes at 105". Animation World Network. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Amidi, Amid (October 28, 2013). "Happy Birthday! Disney Animator Don Lusk Turns 100 Today!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Linus Presents Producer Lee Mendelson With His Winsor McCay Award". IndieWire. February 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images.
  8. ↑ National Archives at St. Louis. (n.d.). WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940–03/31/1947. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group 147, Box 1089. National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
  9. 1 2 3 Pederson, Erik (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk Dies: Disney Animator On 'Fantasia' & 'Bambi' Who Later Worked At Hanna-Barbera Was 105". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  10. ↑ Beck, Jerry (November 1, 2010). "Happy 97th Birthday, Don Lusk!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Disney Animator Don Lusk Dies at 105 -". January 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ Sippell, Margeaux (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Disney Animator, Dies at 105". Variety. Los Angeles: Variety Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  13. ↑ Hulett, Steve (October 28, 2013). "Happy 100th!". The Animation Guild. Burbank, California: Blogger. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.