Disneyrewind - June 26, 1909 Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman is born

Animator-director Wolfgang "Woolie" Reitherman is born June 26th 1909 in Munich, Germany. As a child, his family will move to the U.S. and settle in California. Woolie hired in with Walt Disney right out of Art School and went to work in 1934 making pictures. He is called one of Walt Disney's "Nine Old Men," a comparison to the 9 supreme court justices as referred to by Franklin D Roosevelt.


Nine Old Men:

• Les Clark (November 17, 1907 – September 12, 1979) - joined Disney in 1927
• Eric Larson (September 3, 1905 – October 25, 1988) - joined Disney in 1933
• Wolfgang Reitherman (June 26, 1909 – May 22, 1985) - joined Disney in 1933 retired 1981
• Frank Thomas (September 5, 1912 – September 8, 2004) joined Disney in 1934
• Milt Kahl (March 22, 1909 – April 19, 1987) - joined Disney in 1934
• Ward Kimball (March 4, 1914 – July 8, 2002) - joined Disney in 1934
• John Lounsbery (March 9, 1911 – February 13, 1976) - joined Disney in 1935
• Marc Davis (March 30, 1913 – January 12, 2000) - joined Disney in 1935
• Ollie Johnston (October 31, 1912 – April 14, 2008) - joined Disney in 1935

A Disney Legend, Woolie has animated, directed and or produced pretty much every animated feature, and short during his 47 years with Walt Disney Productions.  He was named a Disney Legend in 1989.

Wolfgang died on May 22nd, 1985 in a single-car accident near his home in Burbank, California.