ContraCostaTimes.com reports that John Hench, “a longtime Disney artist and the official portrait painter of Mickey Mouse”, has died at 95. Hench began at Disney in 1939 as a sketch artist on Fantasia and went on to work on many other films (animated and live action) in different capacities. In 1946, Hench worked with Walt Disney and Salvador Dali on the short film Destino (completed recently and nominated for an Academy Award this year). He won an Oscar in 1955 for his special effects work on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Hench worked with Walt on Disneyland, designing several attractions including Space Mountain. Hench designed the Olympic torch for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley; almost every torch since has been based on his design. After Walt Disney’s death in 1966, Hench oversaw the creation of Walt Disney World in Florida in 1971 and the addition of Epcot in 1982. He also helped supervise the design of Disney’s first overseas park, Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983 in Japan, among other projects”. In 1990, he was named a Disney Legend. Last year he co-wrote a book called Designing Disney: Imagineering and the Art of the Show. ASIFA-Hollywood announced earlier this year that he would be the recipient of the Winsor McCay Award, a recognition of lifetime contributions to the art of animation, at this year’s Annie Awards.

Michael Eisner said, “John Hench taught me and so many others about the essence of the Disney legacy. He was at Walt’s side during the creation of so much classic entertainment and continued to be a vital creative force for our company right up to the end. He will be greatly missed by all of us who were privileged to work with him and by everyone who cherishes Disney family entertainment”.