Honoring the Eleven NEW Disney Legends for 2017!

Since it's inception, the Disney Legends award has honored many gifted animators, Imagineers, songwriters, actors, and business leaders who have made a significant impact on the Disney legacy. See the Disney Legends for 2017 from the D23 Expo!

One of my favorite things about attending press trips with Disney is visiting Disney Legends Plaza at The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. The first time I stepped into the plaza I was in awe. It really feels a bit magical. The plaza has an incredible bronze sculpture of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse and various bronze plaques adorning the columns which represent the individual Legends. The plaques are really a sight to see since they feature each recipient's name, reason for earning the award, their handprints and signature.

Disney Legends for 2017

When I received my invitation to attend the D23 Expo (thank you Disney!), I knew this year would be extra special since it's the 30th anniversary of the Disney Legends Award. It's the highest honor that Disney can bestow upon those who have made their mark on the history of the brand and it's truly a celebration. Since the D23 Expo began in 2009, fans have been able to watch the awards ceremony live and 2017 promised to be a BIG year with some awe-insipiring new Legends.

Bog Iger, Disney Legends Award for 2017. Photo courtesy of Disney/Image Group LA.

The Disney Legends Award ceremony was held on Friday, July 14 at the D23 Expo and I was privileged to attend. The event was hosted by Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and the room was PACKED. There was so much anticipation and excitement in the room - it felt electric.

Honorees receive a two-foot-tall bronze Disney Legends sculpture that signifies the imagination, creativity, and magic they have brought to the Company. Disney Legends Award recipients also participate in a handprint ceremony at the end of the event so that they're plaques can be displayed in the Disney Legends Plaza that I mentioned earlier.

Oprah Winfrey with Bob Iger at Disney Legends Awards ceremony at D23 Expo. Photo courtesy of Disney/Image Group LA.

Oprah Winfrey was given a Disney Legends award in 2017. The renowned award-winning producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist is probably best known for her award-winning talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran for 25 seasons in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. In 1998, she produced and starred in Beloved for Disney’s Touchstone Pictures. Oprah also produced and starred in ABC’s 1989 limited series The Women of Brewster Place, and would go on to produce many films for ABC, including Tuesdays with Morrie, Before Women Had Wings, and Their Eyes Were Watching God under the “Oprah Winfrey Presents” banner. She voiced Eudora in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog in 2009 and will co-star as Mrs. Which in Disney’s 2018 film A Wrinkle in Time.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated Legends to be honored was Carrie Fisher. Best known for her role as Princess Leia from the Star Wars franchise, Ms. Fisher made a huge impact on the lives many, many people. I remember draping myself in a white pillow case and managing to coil my hair into 2 messy buns as a child so that my brother and I could reenact Star Wars scenes. Seeing her honored in such a beautiful way made my heart so full.

Mark Hamill accepting his Disney Legends Award and paying tribute to Carrier Fisher. Photo courtesy of Disney/Image Group LA.

Along with Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill was also honored as a Disney Legend in 2017. He starred as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, but he actually began his relationship with Disney beforehand when he was cast in a recurring role on ABC’s General Hospital. Mr. Hamill has also done voice work on Disney’s Miles from Tomorrowland (one of my son's favorite shows) and Milo Murphy’s Law. He also lent his voice to The Joker in the Batman animated series, which earned him a BAFTA Award. Hamill gave a touching tribute to his co-star Carrie Fisher. It was really a beautiful moment.

Sons of Gerry Geronimi accepting a Disney Legends Award. Photo courtesy of Disney/Image Group LA.

Clyde "Gerry" Geronimi is a Disney Legend for 2017 for animating several memorable Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphony, and Pluto cartoons. He joined the Disney Studio in 1931 and helped create more than 50 shorts during his career. Eventually he became a sequence director and then contributed to The Three Caballeros, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians before serving as supervising director for the 1959 animated classic Sleeping Beauty.

His sons graciously accepted the Disney Legends Award on his behalf. I think one of my favorite parts of this ceremony was getting to hear from the children of these Legends. They gave us such a candid look at their parents and you could see how proud they were and how much it meant to them to have their parents honored.

The son of Manuel Gonzales accepts the Disney Legends Award for his dad. Image: Disney/Image Group LA

Another talented artist honored as a Disney Legend for 2017 was Manuel Gonzalez. He joined Disney in 1936 and in 1938 he took over penciling duties from Disney Legend Floyd Gottfredson for the Sunday Mickey Mouse comic strip. He was responsible for bringing Mickey to newspapers across the country for almost 40 years. Manuel is one of a few to receive a Mousecar award from Walt Disney himself in 1966. His son accepted the award on his behalf.

Imagineer Wayne Jackson accepting his Disney Legends Award. Image: Disney/Image Group LA.

A supremely talented Walt Disney Imagineer named Wayne Jackson was also named a Disney Legend for 2017. Mr. Jackson started working with Disney in 1965 and has helped develop and install Disney attractions all over the world. He was instrumental in the development of Audio-Animatronics® technology and he went on to help develop Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions at Disneyland. He then helped develop and install attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris.

Marvel fans, you should definitely rejoice since TWO huge names in the Marvel world were honored as Disney Legends for 2017.

Neal Kirby, son of Jack Kirby, accepts the Disney Legends Award. Photo courtesy of Disney/Image Group LA.

First, Jack Kirby, the co-creator of Captain America was honored posthumously. After introducing us to Captain America, Mr. Kirby went on to release a vast collection of comic books which would be a prelude to his work creating the foundations of the Marvel Universe. He would eventually work alongside another 2017 Disney Legend honoree, Stan Lee, to create a jaw-dropping list of new characters like the Avengers, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Panther, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Inhumans. Neal Kirby, the son of Jack Kirby accepted the Disney Legends Award on his dad's behalf.

Stan Lee gives a mighty Excelsior after accepting the Disney Legends Award and paying tribute to Jack Kirby. Image: Disney / Image Group LA

Stan Lee was also given a prestigious Disney Legends award. Mr. Lee was an office assistant at a comic publisher in 1939 called Timely Comics, which was the forerunner of the powerhouse we all know today as Marvel. He made his debut with a Captain America story in 1941, and just one year later at the age of just 18, he was promoted to editor. In 1961, Stan teamed up with Mr. Kirby to create the Fantastic Four and a new range of Marvel characters, including Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the X-Men, Daredevil, and Falcon. He became Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and eventually was named chairman emeritus. Witnessing this iconic figure being honored as a Disney Legend was just as incredible as you might imagine.

Garry Marshall's children accept the award on his behalf. Image: Disney / Image Group LA

Garry Marshall was also honored as a Disney Legend for 2017. Mr. Marshall began his career writing for a number of hit shows, including The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show. But his big break came in 1970, when he produced The Odd Couple for ABC. Beginning with Happy Days in 1974, he developed a shared universe of spinoffs including Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and Joanie Loves Chachi. He also produced Angie, The New Odd Couple, and Blansky’s Beauties for ABC. In addition to his television work, Garry directed 18 films, including multiple films for Disney, like Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. Garry was known for his acting, as well, and he appeared in Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain and Hocus Pocus. Garry's children were there to accept the award on behalf of their dad, and again gave us an inside look on their dad's personality and what working with Disney meant to him.

Disney Legend Julie Taymor. Image: Disney/Image Group LA

Tony®-, Emmy®-, and Grammy®-winning and Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Julie Taymor received a Disney Legends award as well. Her adaptation of The Lion King debuted in 1997, and became the most successful stage musical of all time with 24 global productions that have been seen by more than 90 million people. The show has played in more than 100 cities in 19 countries. It received 11 Tony Award nominations, earning Ms. Taymore Best Director, Costume Designer, and Best Musical. She is currently directing M. Butterfly on Broadway which will be opening in Fall of 2017.

As a surprise to the audience and Ms. Taymor, the cast of The Lion King performed for the crowd during the Disney Legends Awards for 2017 at the D23 Expo.

Whoopi Goldberg accepting her award. Image: Disney / Image Group LA

In a day-of surprise announcement, we also learned that Whoopi Goldberg would be honored as part of the Disney Legends for 2017. Whoopi Goldberg is one of a very elite group of artists who is an EGOT, which is an acronym for a person who’s won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. She has won Emmys (as host of AMC’s “Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel,” and a Daytime Emmy for “The View”), a Grammy (“Whoopi Goldberg”), an Oscar (“Ghost”) and a Tony (Producer of “Thoroughly Modern Millie”).

. @WhoopiGoldberg has Minnie Mouse-inspired shoes and we love her so much. #D23Expo pic.twitter.com/XYYGNgANoL

— Oh My Disney (@OhMyDisney) July 14, 2017

Whoopi Goldberg explained that she's been a huge fan of all things Disney since she was a child and even showed off her Irregular Choice Minnie Mouse shoes. I feel like I really need to add these to my wardrobe!

Be sure to check out my extended D23 Expo coverage: