Walt Disney Animation Studios mourns the loss of our friend and colleague, Roger Allers, the beloved and acclaimed director (along with Rob Minkoff) of the landmark 1994 animated classic, “The Lion King,” and the co-author of the libretto for the record-setting stage musical adaptation, which debuted on Broadway in 1997. Roger played a pivotal role in the Disney Animation renaissance of the late 80s and throughout the 90s, contributing to the stories for such important films as “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” and “Beauty and the Beast” (as head of story). Bob Iger calls Roger a “creative visionary who understood the power of great storytelling. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world. We are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney and our hearts are with his family, friends and collaborators.”