Established in 1987 , theprogram recognizes people who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company . The honor is awarded annually during a special ceremony.

Recipients are chosen by a selection committee, formerly appointed and chaired by the late Disney Legend Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney's nephew, former vice chairman and director emeritus of The Walt Disney Company. The committee consists of long-time Disney executives, historians, and other authorities. Roy Disney died on December 16, 2009. Disney's corporate headquarters in Burbank, California features a plaza honoring the recipients outside Team Disney - The Michael D. Eisner Building. Each honoree is represented by a bronze plaque; the plaque features the recipient's handprints and signature if they were living when named a Disney Legend.

Artist Andrea Favilli created the Disney Legends award, which is handcrafted from bronze each year. The award depicts the arm of Mickey Mouse holding a star-tipped wand.

Disney describes the award as follows: The Disney Legends award has three distinct elements that characterize the contributions made by each talented recipient.

The Spiral ... stands for imagination, the power of an idea. The Hand ... holds the gifts of skill, discipline, and craftsmanship. The Wand and the Star ... represent magic: the spark that is ignited when imagination and skill combine to create a new dream.

When Disney opened its hall of fame, all of the then-major Hollywood Studios considered opening their own halls of fame, but (as of 2008) Disney remains the only major Hollywood studio to have one.

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Recipients

1987

Fred MacMurray, Film

1988

Virginia Davis, Animation

Norman Palmer, Film

1989

All except Iwerks were Disney's "Nine Old Men."

1990

Roger Broggie, Imagineering

Joe Fowler, Attractions

John Hench, Animation & Imagineering

Richard Irvine, Imagineering

Herb Ryman, Imagineering

Richard Sherman, Music

Robert B. Sherman, Music

1991

1992

Jimmie Dodd, Television

Bill Evans, Imagineering

Annette Funicello, Film & Television

Joe Grant, Animation

Jack Hannah, Animation

Winston Hibler, Film

Ken O'Connor, Animation & Imagineering

Roy Williams, Animation & Television

1993

1994

1995

1996

Bob Allen, Attractions

Rex Allen, Film & Television

X Atencio, Animation & Imagineering

Betty Lou Gerson, Animation—Voice

Bill Justice, Animation & Imagineering

Bob Matheison, Attractions

Sam McKim, Imagineering

Bob Moore, Animation & Film

Bill Peet, Animation—Story

Joe Potter, Attractions

1997

Lucien Adés, Music

Angel Angelopoulos, Publishing

Antonio Bertini, Character Merchandise

Armand Bigle, Character Merchandise

Gaudenzio Capelli, Publishing

Roberto de Leonardis, Film

Cyril Edgar, Film

Wally Feignoux, Film

Didier Fouret, Publishing

Mario Gentilini, Publishing

Cyril James, Film & Merchandise

Horst Koblischek, Character Merchandise

Gunnar Mansson, Character Merchandise

Arnoldo Mondadori, Publishing

Armand Palivoda, Film

Poul Brahe Pederson, Publishing

André Vanneste, Character Merchandise

Paul Winkler, Character Merchandise

1998

1999

2000

Barkad Hashi, Animation

Harriet Burns, Imagineering

Joyce Carlson, Animation & Imagineering

Ron Dominguez, Parks & Resorts

Cliff Edwards, Animation—Voice

Becky Fallberg, Animation

Dickie Jones, Animation—Voice

Dodie Roberts, Animation

Retta Scott, Animation

Ruthie Tompson, Animation

2001

2002

In honor of the opening of the Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris, all 2002 inductees are of European origin. The ceremony was held in the Animation building at the new park on opening day.

2003

Following a dispute between Roy E. Disney and the company that resulted in Disney departing, Robert Iger, the company's then-president and COO co-presented with Michael Eisner.

Neil Beckett, Merchandise

Tutti Camarata, Music

Edna Francis Disney

Lillian Disney

Orlando Ferrante, Imagineering

Richard Fleischer, Film

Floyd Gottfredson, Animation

Buddy Hackett, Film & Television

Harrison "Buzz" Price, Research Economist. Located sites for Disneyland and Disney World.

Al Taliaferro, Cartoonist

Ilene Woods, Music—Voice

2004

2005

In honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary in 2005, all recipients are related to either Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and/or Walt Disney Imagineering, and nearly all have had some connection with Disneyland. Roy E. Disney again co-presented the awards, after a two-year hiatus and a return to the company.

Chuck Abbott, Parks & Resorts

Milt Albright, Parks & Resorts

Hideo Amemiya, Parks & Resorts

Hideo Aramaki, Parks & Resorts

Charles Boyer, Parks & Resorts

Randy Bright, Imagineer

James Cora, Parks & Resorts

Robert Jani, Parks & Resorts

Mary Jones, Parks & Resorts

Art Linkletter, Parks & Resorts

Mary Anne Mang, Parks & Resorts

Steve Martin, Parks & Resorts

Tom Nabbe, Parks & Resorts

Jack Olsen, Parks & Resorts

Cicely Rigdon, Parks & Resorts

William Sullivan, Parks & Resorts

Jack Wagner, Parks & Resorts

Vesey Walker, Parks & Resorts

2006

2007

2008

2009

2011

2013

2015

2017