Roger Allers, acclaimed animator and director who was best known for his work on Disney films such as The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Emperor’s New Groove, has passed away at the age of 76.

Allers’ career at Disney began when he joined the storyboard team for the creation of 1982’s Tron, where he specialized in pre-production concepts for the feature. After that, Allers continued to develop his skills as an animator and storyteller, working on the storyboard teams for 1988’s Oliver & Company and 1989’s The Little Mermaid, where he was credited as a storyboard artist. Allers’ success did not stop there, as he went on to become the head of story on 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, the first animated film to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award.

Allers would have another notable career achievement not even three years later, when he co-directed the critically acclaimed animated musical The Lion King alongside Rob Minkoff, earning the pair a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the musical or comedy category. The feature was a critical and financial success, leading to a franchise consisting of multiple prequels, sequels, spin-off series, and a Tony Award-winning Broadway production that Allers wrote himself.

Allers would continue to contribute to various Disney projects after his success on The Lion King, working on the story for 2000’s The Emperor’s New Groove and as an additional storyboard artist alongside John Sanford for 2002’s Lilo & Stitch.

Dave Bossert, Allers’ colleague and film producer, confirmed the filmmaker’s death in a Facebook post on January 18, 2026, and praised Allers for his revolutionary work at Disney. The sentimental post read,

I am deeply saddened by the news that our friend Roger Allers has passed on to his next journey. We were just trading emails this past week while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this loss feel all the more unreal. Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.

Continuing his post, Bossert described working on films with Allers throughout the 80’s and 90’s, how the animator was “one of the kindest people you could hope to know and work alongside.” With the producer concluding his heartfelt post by stating,

[Allers] carried a sense of wonder, generosity, and enthusiasm that lifted everyone around him. Roger had a joyful, luminous spirit, and the world is dimmer without him. Rest in peace, my friend. Until we meet again on the other side

Disney CEO Bob Iger also paid tribute to Allers, affirming that his work on Disney helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world.” Iger isn’t wrong in that sentiment as Allers was a major contributor to films that would be known to be a part of “the Disney Renaissance”, a period when the studio produced most of their iconic animated features. Read Iger’s full statement below:

Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come. He understood the power of great storytelling — how unforgettable characters, emotion, and music can come together to create something timeless. 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.

Allers is survived by his daughter and son.