Don Lusk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Don Lusk
Born
Donald R. Lusk

(1913-10-28)October 28, 1913
Burbank, California, United States
DiedDecember 30, 2018(2018-12-30) (aged 105)
San Clemente, California, United States
OccupationAnimator and director
Years active1933–1993
EmployerWalt Disney Animation Studios (1933–1960)
Hanna-Barbera (1960–1993)
Children2

Donald Lusk (October 28, 1913 – December 30, 2018)[1] was an American animator and director.

Early life[]

Lusk was born on October 28, 1913, in Burbank a suburb of Los Angeles, California. He served in the United States Marines during World War II.[1]

Career[]

Lusk was hired by The Walt Disney Company in 1933 as an Inbetweener. He was 20 at the time.[2] His first film as an animator was 1938's Ferdinand the Bull adapted from 1936's The Story of Ferdinand by author Munro Leaf.[3] He worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, 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.[4]

Lusk left Disney in 1960, but continued to work as an animator during the 1960s and 1970s. 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.[5]

In the early 1990s, Lusk retired after a career which spanned some 60 years.[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.[2] He was the last living animator who worked on the films Pinocchio and Fantasia.[7]

Filmography[]

Year Title Credits Characters
1940 Pinocchio Animator
Fantasia Animator – Segments "The Nutcracker Suite" and "The Pastoral Symphony"
1942 Bambi Animator
1946 Song of the South Animator
1948 Melody Time Character Animator
1949 So Dear to My Heart Animator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Character Animator
1950 Cinderella Character Animator
1951 Alice in Wonderland Character Animator
1952 Lambert the Sheepish Lion (Short) Animator
Trick or Treat (Short) Animator
1953 Peter Pan Character Animator
Ben and Me (Short) Animator
1955 Lady and the Tramp Character Animator
1959 Sleeping Beauty Character Animator
1954 – 1959 The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) Animator – 5 Episodes
1961 One Hundred and One Dalmatians Character Animator
2002 Mickey's House of Villains (Video) Animator – Segment "Trick or Treat"

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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. ^ Jump up to: a b Pederson, Erik (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk Dies: Disney Animator On 'Fantasia' & 'Bambi' Who Later Worked At Hsnna-Barbera Was 105". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Beck, Jerry (November 1, 2010). "Happy 97th Birthday, Don Lusk!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Sippell, Margeaux (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, "Alice in Wonderland" and "Pinocchio" Animator, Dies at 105". Variety. Los Angeles: Variety Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  6. ^ Hulett, Steve (October 28, 2013). "Happy 100th!". The Animation Guild. Burbank, California: Blogger. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  7. ^ Blauvelt, Christian. "Don Lusk, Last Living Animator of Disney's Golden Age Who Worked on 'Pinocchio,' 'Fantasia,' Dies at 105". IndieWire.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""