Roy Williams, best known as "Roy" onThe Mickey Mouse Club (1955),was born Joseph Roy Williams in Colville, Washington, on July 30, 1907.His family moved to Los Angeles in 1920 after his father died and livedwith his grandmother. In 1925 he was hired by the animation studioHyperion Studios, which began his lifelong association with thelegendaryWalt Disney. Disney sent him tothe prestigious Choinnard Art Institute, and after graduation hired himas an artist. He worked his way up into the Art Department, eventuallybecoming an animator.
In the 1950s Disney moved him out of the Art Department and assignedhim as a storyboard artist for its upcoming childrens show "The MickeyMouse Club".Walt Disney himself picked Royto be co-host, withJimmie Dodd, of the showbecause, even though he was big and heavy, he was warm and gentle andvery good with children, who took to him right away.
In addition to his co-hosting duties, Roy was also one of those whopicked the children who would appear on the show after they werescreened by the casting directors (for the first season, anyway; in thelater seasons he wasn't). His skill as a sketch artist was incorporatedinto the show, and was used in many of the show's story lines.
When the series was finally canceled, all of the cast members were letgo except Roy. He appeared on-camera occasionally in Disney specialsand showed up at various Disneyland parades, but health issues cut downon those appearances. He finally retired in the 1970s, after almost 50years with the Disney organization.
He died on November 7, 1976.
In the 1950s Disney moved him out of the Art Department and assignedhim as a storyboard artist for its upcoming childrens show "The MickeyMouse Club".Walt Disney himself picked Royto be co-host, withJimmie Dodd, of the showbecause, even though he was big and heavy, he was warm and gentle andvery good with children, who took to him right away.
In addition to his co-hosting duties, Roy was also one of those whopicked the children who would appear on the show after they werescreened by the casting directors (for the first season, anyway; in thelater seasons he wasn't). His skill as a sketch artist was incorporatedinto the show, and was used in many of the show's story lines.
When the series was finally canceled, all of the cast members were letgo except Roy. He appeared on-camera occasionally in Disney specialsand showed up at various Disneyland parades, but health issues cut downon those appearances. He finally retired in the 1970s, after almost 50years with the Disney organization.
He died on November 7, 1976.
BornJuly 30, 1907
DiedNovember 7, 1976(69)
Writer
Animation Department
Art Department
- Alternative name
- Roy
- Born
- Died
- November 7,1976
- Burbank, California, USA(heart failure)
- Spouse
- Ethel Bernice ClarkFebruary 10, 1937 - November 7, 1976 (his death, 1 child)
- Children
- Maureen Williams
- ParentsDavid W Williams
- Publicity listings
- TriviaHe was known to the public as the huge Mouseketeer onThe Mickey Mouse Club (1955). By the time he had first put on the Mouse Ears, he had been anemployee ofWalt Disney for almost a quarter-century. An artist, hestarted in the Animation Department as an in-betweener and then moved upto animator and then story and gag man.
- QuotesI'm a mirror reflecting the genius ofWalt Disney.
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