Harper Goff | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ralph Harper Goff (1911-03-16)March 16, 1911 Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 1993(1993-03-03) (aged 81) Palm Springs, California, U.S. |
| Education | Chouinard Art Institute |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, musician, actor |
| Years active | 1935–1993 |
| Spouse | |
Harper Goff (March 16, 1911 – March 3, 1993), bornRalph Harper Goff, was an American artist, musician, and actor. For many years, he was associated withThe Walt Disney Company, in the process of which he contributed to various major films, as well as to the planning of the Disney theme parks. DuringWorld War II, he was also an advisor to theU.S. Army oncamouflage (Blechman 2004; Behrens 2009).
Goff was born inFort Collins, Colorado. He studied art atChouinard Art Institute inLos Angeles, then moved toNew York City, where he worked as a magazineillustrator, producing artwork forCollier's,Esquire andNational Geographic. As a designer, he sometimes producedadvertising for the U.S. Army.
During World War II, by his own account, Goff was approached for advice about camouflage paint by the U.S. Army, because he had been "making paint and working on a do-it-yourself painter's kit" (Naversen 1989, p. 150). Assigned to a camouflage research facility atFort Belvoir, Virginia, he developed a set of paint colors (which he compared to paint-by-number kits) that were used as "standard issue" hues for camouflage, as well as a camouflage pigment that was chemically impermanent, enabling its removal when it was no longer needed. Later in the war, he transferred to theU.S. Navy where (in his words) "I was working on confusing the silhouettes of ships" [not unlikedazzle camouflage] (Naversen 1989, p. 151).
Returning to the U.S., Goff moved back toCalifornia and worked as aset designer forWarner Bros., producing the sets for such memorable films asSergeant York,Charge of the Light Brigade, andCaptain Blood. Goff was a lifelong model train enthusiast. In 1951, while in a London model-making shop, he metWalt Disney when they both wanted to buy the same model train.
As a result of having met Disney, he joined the Los Angeles artistic team of the Walt Disney Studios, a relationship that continued, off and on, until his death in 1993. His extraordinary work gave a distinctive character to a number of Disney productions. He is specifically credited with many of the finest inventive effects in Disney's groundbreaking live-action film,20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, which he art-directed, even though the movie credit reads: "Production Developed By..." Goff designed the exterior of theNautilus, along with sets for every compartment within the submarine. The film was awarded twoAcademy Awards, for color art direction and best special effects. At that time, in 1954, the Art Directors Union had created a bylaw within the Academy of Motion Pictures, which stated that only union art directors could win the award. The academy gave the award for "Best Art Direction — Color 1954", to Goff's assistant, John Meehan, because he had a union card. Goff went on to get a union card, but was never given the award.
Years later, Goff created the submarine,Proteus, for the film,Fantastic Voyage(Working again with 20.000 Leagues directorRichard Fleischer), and art-directed the highly acclaimedWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Goff also contributed heavily to the early renderings and concept art for Disney's proposed Mickey Mouse Park, which became the theme park known asDisneyland, and several areas ofWalt Disney World theme park.
He also played thebanjo in the seven-pieceDixieland band calledFirehouse Five Plus Two, formed by other Disney staff and led by trombonistWard Kimball with animatorFrank Thomas on the piano.[1] WhenTom Sawyer Island opened in 1973 atMagic Kingdom, they named Harper's Mill after him. Just above theAdventureland Bazaar shop inDisneyland, there is a window dedicated to Goff for his time inWalt Disney Imagineering.[1] In 1993, he was posthumously named aDisney Legend.
Goff was married more than 60 years to his wife Flossie Newcomb.[2] He died at his home inPalm Springs, California, on March 3, 1993, at the age on 81 due toheart failure.[3]
As an actor, he also played the following roles:
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