LOS ANGELES, November 28, 2025 – Roger Allers, the celebrated film-maker who co-directed Disney’s The Lion King, has died at age 76, leaving behind a legacy that redefined animated storytelling. The news, shared on social media Sunday morning, reverberated through the animation world, prompting an outpouring of tributes.
A Golden Era of Disney Animation Comes to a Close
Allers’ work on classics like “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin” helped shape a generation’s childhoods.
- Allers co-directed the highest-grossing hand-drawn animated film of all time, “The Lion King.”
- He began his Disney career in 1982 on “Tron” and contributed to numerous iconic films.
- Allers also adapted “The Lion King” for the stage, creating a Tony-winning Broadway sensation.
- His colleagues remember him as a kind and generous artist who inspired those around him.
Dave Bossert, a colleague at the company, announced Allers’ passing, describing him as “an extraordinarily gifted artist and film-maker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.” Bossert fondly recalled working alongside Allers in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, emphasizing his kindness and the sense of wonder he brought to every project.
What made “The Lion King” so impactful? The 1994 film became the highest-grossing release of that year and, for a time, the second-highest-grossing film of all time, surpassed only by “Jurassic Park.” It remains the top-grossing hand-drawn animated feature ever made, with over 55 million home video copies sold worldwide.
Born in New York in 1949 and raised in Arizona, Allers discovered his passion for animation at age five while watching Disney’s “Peter Pan.” He launched his Disney career in 1982 as a storyboard artist on “Tron,” and continued to contribute his talents to beloved films such as “Oliver & Company” (1988), “The Little Mermaid” (1989), and “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990). He later served as head of story on “Beauty and the Beast” (1991) and worked on “Aladdin” (1992) before co-directing “The Lion King” with Rob Minkoff in 1994.
Allers and Minkoff received a Golden Globe for best motion picture musical or comedy for their work on “The Lion King.” Allers’ creative influence extended beyond the screen; he penned the book for the 1998 Tony Award-winning Broadway adaptation of “The Lion King” alongside Irene Mecchi, a production that continues to captivate audiences globally.
Throughout his career at Disney, Allers also lent his expertise to “Lilo & Stitch” and contributed to the story development of “The Emperor’s New Groove.” He later co-directed “Open Season,” Sony Pictures Animation’s inaugural feature film, with Jill Culton.
Disney CEO Bob Iger honored Allers as “a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come.” Iger added, “His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and collaborators.”
