Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw Passes Away (Mergedx3)

[Opus1guy]

Just read the news on another Disney board that Disney Legend Peter Ellenshaw passed away at age 93.

I'm stunned.

An absolute jewel of a man. One of the warmest and funniest individuals I've had the privilege to know. And talent? Incredible. Disney, Hollywood, everyone just lost an absolute treasure of a human being. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and fans everywhere.

Rest In Peace, my friend. We'll "chew the fat" and dance to "Knees Up, Mother Brown" again someday.

[FrumiousBoojum]

Noooo!!!!

[Not Afraid]

Is there a news link? I can't find one anywhere.

I'm not surprised at this news. He has been ailing for quite a while now. What a wonderful artist. He was THE matte artist for many, many years. So many great films bear his name.

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

How sad to lose such a marvelous artist. What a rare and wonderful talent this man embodied.

The English landscapes that he painted for the Pooh characters are my favorite works of his. How I wish I could place myself inside those landscapes!

"Ellenshaw Under Glass" by Bruce Gordon and David Mumford is a must for any Peter Ellenshaw fan. He will be greatly missed.

[Alice's Wonderland]

How sad! He was such an amazingly talented man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[Dustysage]

So sad. He was indeed a Disney Legend:

Peter first met Walt Disney in 1948, when Walt began production of his first all live-action motion picture "Treasure Island" in England. Intrigued by Peter's artistry, Walt personally chose him to recreate scenes of long-ago England on painted backgrounds for the film.

Later, when planning Jules Verne's classic "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," Walt brought Peter to Hollywood to work on the film, which won an Oscar® for best special effects in 1955. Ten years later, Peter won his own Academy Award® for his work in "Mary Poppins." As a matte artist, he contributed to such films as "Pollyanna" and "Swiss Family Robinson" and he was also responsible for production design on "Johnny Tremain." In addition, Peter contributed to the special photographic effects of "Darby O'Gill and the Little People," served as production designer on "Island at the Top of the World" and as art director on "Bedknobs and Broomsticks." In all, Peter contributed to more than 30 Disney feature films.

More on Disney's Legends Site

[Osky]

Wow. He will be missed by many. Thanks for sharing the news. I may just have to lift a glass this evening...

[Opus1guy]

More on Disney's Legends Site

That link is in the original Post #1.

Is there a news link? I can't find one anywhere.

Not yet I guess. But the other Disney board where this was posted did say that statements from Disney and the Ellenshaw family wouldn't be released until tomorrow. So the news probably hasn't hit the news services yet.

[disneytim]

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Peter's son Harrison is an accomplished artist and special effects man himself. Samples of both their work can be found at www.ellenshaw.com.

Condolences to the entire Ellenshaw family.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sad.

[Morrigoon]

Oh no! I love his work!

[WDW1974]

It is very sad.

So many greats ... the folks that made Disney ... well, Disney have left us over the past decade.

Now, Peter is gone too.

[Tinkerbell]

I could cry. I'm so sad over this. He was one of my absolute favorite artists and I've looked up to him for so many years. He will be greatly missed.

[Alchimedes]

This is sad. Sorry to see another Disney legend move on.

I have one of his artwork pieces of that a friend gave me as a gift.

[DsnyFvr]

wow..this is incredibly sad news. He was such an enormous talent. I had a chance to hear him speak at a Disney convention once. From the stories I have read, he was a very nice person as well.

He will really be missed.