Disney veteran screenwriter and co-director of the 1994 animated classic 'The Lion King,' Roger Allers, has sadly passed away at the age of 76. The news was confirmed by longtime friend and collaborator, senior visual effects supervisor Dave Bossert, who paid tribute in a Facebook post.
Dave wrote in grief: “I am incredibly saddened by the news that Roger is embarking on his next journey. Just last week, we were still exchanging emails while he was traveling in Egypt, which makes this all the more surreal. Roger was a truly outstanding artist and filmmaker, and a genuine pillar of the Disney animation renaissance.”
Roger co-directed 'The Lion King' with Rob Minkoff, which is still regarded as one of the greatest works in the history of Disney animation. Released in 1994, the film grossed $771 million globally (about 3.12 billion MYR); the 2019 live-action remake went on to a staggering $1.6 billion box office (about 6.5 billion MYR), making it one of the highest-grossing films in history.
Besides 'The Lion King,' Roger also directed the 2006 animated film 'Open Season' and the Oscar-nominated short film 'The Little Matchgirl.' He was also a key screenwriter and story developer for several Disney classics, including 'Aladdin' and 'The Emperor’s New Groove.'
Source: United Daily News