Don Lusk
Donald R. "Don" Lusk | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 28, 1913 Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 30, 2018 (aged 105) San Clemente, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Animator, director |
| Years active | 1933–1993 |
| Employer(s) | Walt Disney Animation Studios (1933–1961) Walter Lantz Productions (1960–1961) Hanna-Barbera (1960–1993) Bill Melendez Productions (1969-1977) Grantray-Lawrence Animation (1966) DePatie–Freleng Enterprises (1972) |
| Children | 2 |
 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (February 2022) |
Donald Ross "Don" Lusk (October 28, 1913 – December 30, 2018)[1] was an American animator and director.[2][3][4]
Early life
[edit]Donald Ross Lusk was born on October 28, 1913, in Burbank, a suburb of Los Angeles, California to Perceval Knox Lusk and Louise Opie Ross Parrish, who were married in 1908 in California.[5] He served in the United States Marines during World War II.[6][7]
Career
[edit]Lusk was hired by The Walt Disney Company in 1933 as an Inbetweener. He was 20 at the time.[8] His first film as an animator was 1938's Ferdinand the Bull adapted from 1936's The Story of Ferdinand by author Munro Leaf.[9] He worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia (The Nutcracker Suite and The Pastoral Symphony Segments), Bambi, Song of the South, Melody Time, So Dear to My Heart, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.[10] [11]
Lusk left Disney in 1960, but continued to work as an animator during the 1960s and 1970s. During the early 1960s, he worked at Walter Lantz Productions under Jack Hannah's unit. Aside from animation, Lusk also directed multiple cartoon films and series, including the Peanuts TV specials and movies and for the Hanna-Barbera studio. His work at the latter included The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, and Tom and Jerry.[12]
In the early 1990s, Lusk retired after a career which spanned some 60 years.[13]
Personal life and death
[edit]Lusk married Marge Lusk, who worked in the Personnel Department of Disney Studios in Burbank. The couple had two children. He died on December 30, 2018, in San Clemente, California, aged 105.[1] Long time friend, Navah-Paskowitz Asner, announced the news of his death on social media.[8]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Credits | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Pinocchio | Animator | |
| Fantasia | Animator - Segments "The Nutcracker Suite" and "The Pastoral Symphony" | ||
| 1942 | Bambi | Animator | |
| 1946 | Song of the South | Animator | |
| 1948 | Melody Time | Character Animator | |
| 1949 | So Dear to My Heart | Animator | |
| The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad | Character Animator | ||
| 1950 | Cinderella | Character Animator | |
| 1951 | Alice in Wonderland | Character Animator | |
| 1952 | Lambert the Sheepish Lion (Short) | Animator | |
| Trick or Treat (Short) | Animator | ||
| 1953 | Peter Pan | Character Animator | |
| Ben and Me (Short) | Animator | ||
| 1955 | Lady and the Tramp | Character Animator | |
| 1959 | Sleeping Beauty | Character Animator | |
| 1954-1959 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Animator – 5 Episodes | |
| 1961 | One Hundred and One Dalmatians | Character Animator | |
| 2002 | Mickey's House of Villains (Video) | Animator - Segment "Trick or Treat" |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Barlett, Rhett (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Animator on 'Pinocchio,' 'Fantasia' and Charlie Brown Specials, Dies at 105". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Valence Media). Retrieved December 31, 2018.
- ^ Amidi, Amid (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Last Living Disney Animator Of Golden Age, Dies At 105". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ "Famed Disney Animator Don Lusk Dies at 105". Animation Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ "Don Lusk, Last Surviving Disney Golden Age Animator, Passes at 105". Animation World Network. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images.
- ^ name="THR death
- ^ National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1089
- ^ a b Pederson, Erik (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk Dies: Disney Animator On 'Fantasia' & 'Bambi' Who Later Worked At Hanna-Barbera Was 105". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ Beck, Jerry (November 1, 2010). "Happy 97th Birthday, Don Lusk!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
- ^ Amidi, Amid (October 28, 2013). "Happy Birthday! Disney Animator Don Lusk Turns 100 Today!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ "Disney Animator Don Lusk Dies at 105 -". January 2, 2019.
- ^ Sippell, Margeaux (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Disney Animator, Dies at 105". Variety. Los Angeles: Variety Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Hulett, Steve (October 28, 2013). "Happy 100th!". The Animation Guild. Burbank, California: Blogger. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
