Roy E. Disney, Icon and Philanthropist, Dies at 79

If you spent a good portion of your childhood singing "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid or watching The Lion King so often that you wore out your VHS copy, then you have Roy E. Disney to thank for the memories.

According to LATimes.com, the movie industry has lost a dynamic and beloved legend in Disney, who succumbed to stomach cancer today in Newport Beach, Calif. Following the deaths of his uncle Walt in 1966 and his father, Roy O. Disney (who was in charge of the business side of the company), in 1971, Roy became much more involved with Disney operations. Taking over the family business initially in the 1970s, he relinquished the title of CEO, instead becoming an influential board of director and senior executive, responsible for rebuilding morale and value in the company, which became a leading media empire.

He'd leave the company twice, returning as vice-chairman and chairman of Disney's animation division. He was responsible for the revival of what Disney did best, bringing storybook characters to life, which led to a string of successful hits including Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. But what he was widely known for was his philanthropy.

Disney was a huge supporter of the Los Angeles art scene. He continued his uncle and father's legacy by extending financial support to the California Institute of the Arts (or CalARTS) in Valencia, which was created by Walt and Roy Sr. He also gave $10 million to create the cancer ward at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. And, most notably, he matched the gift from the Walt Disney Company to create REDCAT, the theater space opposite the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

He was 79.

Photo courtesy of Towpilot, via Wikimedia Commons