Roy Disney, Nephew of Walt Disney, Dies at age 79
Roy Disney, Walt Disney’s nephew, died at age 79, reported The Associated Press.
Disney died of stomach cancer on Wednesday in Newport Beach, California.
Disney was the son of co-founder of the Walt Disney Co., Roy O. Disney.
Disney attended Harvard University and afterward began working as an assistant film editor on the NBC network “Dragnet” television series.
During the 1950s Disney began working for the family business as an editor, screenwriter and producer. Two of his works were nominated for Academy Awards; “Mysteries of the Deep,” and “Destino.”
In 1978 he founded Shamrock Holdings, an investment company owned by Disney.
In 1984 Disney managed to convince investors on installing new management, kicking Walt Disney’s son-in-law, Ron Miller, out.
In 1994, as the company’s vice-chairman he helped oversee the making of “The Lion King.”
In 2007 Forbes magazine named him the 754th richest person in the world, with an estimated fortune of $1.3 billion.
Disney pledged $10 million to the Roy and Patricia Disney Cancer Center at Providence ST. Joseph Center in 2005.
