Don Iwerks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Warren Iwerks (1929-07-24)July 24, 1929 (age 95) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Disney executive; Iwerks Entertainment |
| Children | Leslie Iwerks |
| Parent(s) | Mildred Sarah Henderson Ub Iwerks |
Donald Warren Iwerks (/ˈaɪwɜːrks/; born July 24, 1929) is an American formerDisney executive and co-founder ofIwerks Entertainment along with former Disney executiveStan Kinsey. He is the son of the animatorUb Iwerks (Walt Disney's original business partner and co-creator ofMickey Mouse andOswald the Lucky Rabbit) and father of Oscar-nominated documentary film producerLeslie Iwerks.
In 1950, Iwerks joined the Disney company in the machine shop as a technician.
In 1954, Iwerks worked as a camera technician for the film20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, starringKirk Douglas andPeter Lorre. He spent the next 30 years driving film innovations for the Disney company. Notable contributions include the first 360 film techniques, 360-degree camera, and firstCircle-Vision 360 film,America the Beautiful, and developing the process for creating seamless live action shots with animated backgrounds.[1]
In 1985, after nearly 35 years at Disney, Iwerks left to form his own company calledIwerks Entertainment. Iwerks became a leading developer of special films, special venues, and virtual reality theaters throughout the world.[2][3]
In 2019, Iwerks published a book titledWalt Disney's Ultimate Inventor about father Ub Iwerks, his career, and his relationship with Walt Disney.[4]
On March 23, 1998, at the70th Academy Awards show, Iwerks received anOscar. He was awarded theGordon E. Sawyer Award, which is given each year by theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to "an individual in the motion picture industry whose technological contributions have brought credit to the industry".[5]
On March 21, 1999, at the71st Academy Awards show, anOscar for Scientific and Technical Achievement was presented to Iwerks Entertainment for an innovation called the Iwerks 8/70 Linear Loop projection system.
In 2009, Iwerks was inducted byBob Iger andRoy E. Disney as aDisney Legend, honoring him as an individual whose "imagination, talents and dreams have created the Disney magic".[6]