Special guests and celebrities surprised the
honorees with heartwarming tributes and outstanding performances
throughout the evening at the Honda Center.
At the Anaheim
Convention Center, guests closed out a record-breaking D23 weekend
with a final day of programming and immersive experiences.
For images and video from tonight's Legends
Award ceremony, please
visit D23Press.com.
ANAHEIM,
Calif., Aug. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This
evening, during an over-the-top ceremony that capped off a historic
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event weekend, The Walt Disney Company
honored 14 new Disney Legends who have left an indelible mark on
the company's historic legacy. The 2024 honorees included
Colleen Atwood, Angela Bassett, Martha
Blanding, James L. Brooks,
James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley
Cyrus, Steve Ditko,
Harrison Ford, Mark Henn, Frank
Oz, Kelly Ripa, Joe Rohde, and John
Williams.
This year's ceremony, hosted by Ryan
Seacrest, was the largest in the 37 years since the first
Disney Legend was honored, with a Hollywood-level production that brought the
magic of this historic event to even greater heights. And for the
first time ever, the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony will be
available to stream exclusively on Disney+ beginning Monday, August 12 at 2pm
PT/5pm ET.
Disney CEO Bob Iger welcomed
guests to the ceremony and highlighted the historical significance
of the award.
"The Disney Legends Award is the highest honor our company
bestows," Iger said. "It's presented as a celebration of talent, a
recognition of achievement, and, above all, a sincere expression of
our deep gratitude. Disney Legends are bound by the special place
they have earned in our history for their tremendous contributions
in service of entertaining and delighting fans around the
globe."
Each Disney Legend was honored by a special video tribute and
surprise guest appearances, including popular film, television, and
music stars, devoted Disney cast members, and major musical
ensemble performances.
2024 Disney Legends Award Presentations
Harrison Ford, with a
special presentation from Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger.
- Speaking to Ford's immense range and the iconic characters he
originated, Iger noted, "He is the definition of the leading man,
who stands alone in a category all his own."
- A tribute video honoring Ford featured commentary from
Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, Frank
Marshall, Karen Allen,
Adam Driver, Anthony Mackie, Phoebe
Waller-Bridge, Daisy Ridley,
Ke Huy Quan, and Disney Legend
George Lucas.
Jamie Lee Curtis, with a
special on-stage presentation from best friend Jodie Foster and Freakier Friday co-star
Lindsay Lohan.
- From stage, Lohan said, "Every character she plays is
different, and she always brings something unique to the role."
Foster added, "She is inventive, fearless, and full of
surprises."
- A tribute video honoring Curtis featured commentary from fellow
Disney Legend James Cameron and Arnold
Schwarzenegger.
Kelly Ripa, with a special
on-stage presentation from Ryan
Seacrest.
- While presenting the award to his longtime friend and former
"Live" co-host, Seacrest said, "You truly are the definition of a
Legend."
- Seacrest was also featured in a tribute video for Ripa,
alongside her "Live with Kelly and Mark" co-host Mark Consuelos.
Martha Blanding, with a
special on-stage presentation from Derek
Hough and a performance of "You've Got a Friend in Me" from
Disneyland Resort's The Dapper Dans and the Disneyland Band.
- From stage, Hough spoke to Blanding's profound impact on every
Disneyland guest she encounters: "She is a part of the foundation
that makes Disneyland the happiest place on Earth."
- A tribute video honoring Blanding featured commentary from
Dwayne Johnson, Heidi Klum, Tim
O'Day, Noah Elias, and Walt
Disney Company colleagues and cast members Jada Young, Clark
Jones, Chris Sheppard, and
Michelle Harker.
James L. Brooks, with a
special animated video from The Simpsons characters and an
on-stage presentation from Danny
DeVito.
- From stage, DeVito said, "Jim is a genius. He creates moments
that are so funny, sad, and eloquent — unique windows into the
human condition."
- A tribute video honoring Brooks featured commentary from the
stars who voice the beloved The Simpsons characters:
Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy
Cartwright, and Yeardley
Smith.
Colleen Atwood, with a
special on-stage presentation from director Rob Marshall.
- Marshall commented that Atwood is the first costume
designer to be honored as a Disney Legend, saying, "Simply put,
there is just no one like her."
- A tribute video honoring Atwood featured commentary from
Marshall, Colin Farrell,
Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Kevin
Fitzpatrick, Melissa McCarthy, James Bobin,
Jonah Hauer-King, Halle Bailey, and Eva
Green.
Frank Oz, with a special
on-stage presentation from Pixar Chief Creative Officer
Pete Docter.
- Speaking about his friend, Docter commented on Oz's incredible
career from stage, "Frank has truly created some of the best
characters in the history of entertainment."
- A tribute video honoring Oz featured commentary from Disney
Legend Mark Hamill, Robert De Niro,
and Disney Legend Steve Martin.
Miley Cyrus, with a
special on-stage presentation and performance from Lainey Wilson. Wilson performed "Best of Both
Worlds," the iconic song made famous by Cyrus from Hannah Montana.
- A tribute video honoring Cyrus featured commentary from
John Travolta, Bret Michaels, and Chappell Roan.
Steve Ditko, with a
special on-stage presentation from Marvel Studios president
Kevin Feige. Feige presented the
award posthumously to Ditko's nephew, Mark
Ditko.
- On Steve Ditko's impact, Feige
said, "Steve Ditko was an incredible
artist and creator, and one of the original architects of the
Marvel Universe."
- A tribute video honoring Ditko featured commentary from Feige,
Disney Legend Stan Lee, and creative storytellers from Marvel,
including C.B. Cebulski, Tom
DeFalco, Ralph Macchio,
David Bogart, and Ryan Meinerding.
Mark Henn, with a special
on-stage presentation from fellow Disney Legends Jodi Benson,
Paige O'Hara, Linda Larkin, Ming-Na
Wen, and Anika Noni Rose. For
over 40 years, Henn helped create or animate some of the most
timeless characters in Walt Disney Animation Studios history,
including Tiana, Mulan, Young Simba,
Jasmine, Belle, Ariel, and Mickey
Mouse.
- A tribute video honoring Henn's work featured commentary from
Tony Bancroft, John Musker, David
Block, and Rachel Bibb.
Joe Rohde, with a special
video message from Jane Goodall,
PhD, DBE and an on-stage performance from Walt Disney World
Resort's Tam Tam Drummers of Harambe.
- In her video, Goodall said of Rohde, "You've contributed so
much to the success and reputation of Disney's theme parks over the
years and given so many people an exciting and wonderful day."
- A tribute video honoring Rohde featured commentary from
Goodall, fellow Disney Legend James Cameron, Walt Disney
Imagineering Chief Creative Officer Bruce
Vaughn, and creative partners from Walt Disney Imagineering
including Jeanette Lomboy,
Carmen Smith, Zsolt Hormay,
Emily O'Brien, Jennifer Gerstin, and Mark LaVine.
- Originally from the Congo, in
Central Africa, the Tam Tam
Drummers of Harambe set the rhythm at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Band
member Amadou Ndaw presented Rohde with his award.
James Cameron, with a
special video message from Kate
Winslet and an on-stage presentation of the award from Zoë
Saldaña.
- Winslet said in her video to Cameron, "You've revolutionized
the filmmaking process too many times to count, developing
cutting-edge technology to create an immersive realistic experience
for the audience."
- Saldaña, who will have worked with Cameron for over 16 years
when Avatar 3 releases in 2025, said, "Working with you has
been a wild ride. Your passion, your dedication, and your eye for
detail are truly unmatched."
- A tribute video honoring Cameron featured commentary from
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sigourney Weaver, and Kate Winslet.
Angela Bassett, with a
special on-stage presentation from Ryan
Coogler and the Dora Milaje from Marvel's Black
Panther.
- Coogler praised Bassett's profound legacy, saying, "She [has]
always given these incredible larger-than-life performances that
somehow still feel incredibly real and tangent. What she does is
truly a gift."
- A tribute video honoring Bassett featured commentary from
Coogler and Courtney B. Vance.
John Williams, with a
special on-stage presentation from fellow Disney Legend Harrison
Ford and Lucasfilm president Kathleen
Kennedy, followed by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra's
performance of some of Williams' most iconic film scores.
- Ford said, "For over half a century, each and every time
John Williams composes a new score,
he finds a way to imbue the films' stories and characters with a
timeless and essential quality. That's because John is a
storyteller."
- Kennedy added: "It's no exaggeration to say that John Williams is the greatest film composer of
all time. His music has transcended cinema and become a part of our
global culture, touching the hearts of billions, both young and
old.
- A tribute video honoring Williams featured commentary from
Ford, Kennedy, Steven Spielberg,
Frank Marshall, Disney Legend Mark
Hamill, Ke Huy Quan, Daisy Ridley, and George
Lucas.
The Disney Legends Awards is a 37-year tradition of The Walt
Disney Company, which began when Fred
MacMurray (The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded
Professor, The Happiest Millionaire) was honored in
1987. Including this year's honorees, a total of 318 Disney Legends
have been named. Past Disney Legends include Tim Allen, Dame Julie
Andrews, Howard Ashman,
Kristen Bell, Robert Downey Jr., Annette Funicello, Whoopi Goldberg, Sir
Elton John, Dame Angela Lansbury, George
Lucas, Steve Martin,
Alan Menken, Hayley Mills, Fess Parker, Ellen Pompeo, Robin
Roberts, Robert and Richard
Sherman, Marty Sklar,
Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Walters, Ming-Na
Wen, Betty White, and
Robin Williams among many
others.
The Sunday festivities followed two nights of marquee showcases
with exciting performances and announcements from Disney
Entertainment and Disney Experiences. Throughout the weekend, tens
of thousands of fans from around the globe were treated to a
back-to-back, specially curated slate of programming and
experiences from across the worlds of Disney, including
star-studded appearances, headline-grabbing announcements, and the
largest show floor in D23 history. This unique and historic event
allowed fans to engage with the Disney stories, characters, and
brands they love on an even larger scale than ever before in a way
that only Disney can.
To catch up on all the announcements from the weekend, visit
D23Press.com and follow DisneyD23 on
X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube,
and use the hashtag #D23.
About D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Presented by
Visa
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event presented by
Visa is a one-of-a-kind, multi-day fan experience showcasing the
very best in creative storytelling and innovation from across the
worlds of Disney. D23 in 2024 has been reimagined to
be more expansive and more immersive than ever before, with three
packed days of showcases with stars and storytellers, sneak peeks
and behind-the-scenes moments, thrilling performances, shopping,
surprises, and more. For the latest news on D23: The Ultimate
Disney Fan Event, visit ultimatefanevent.d23.com.
Presentations, talent, and schedules are subject to change. Join
the D23 conversation online by following DisneyD23 on
X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
and YouTube, and use the hashtag
#D23.
About D23
The name "D23" pays homage to the
exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in
Hollywood. D23 is the first
official club for fans in Disney's over 100-year history. It gives
its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by
placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through special
experiences; member-exclusive offers and discounts; its quarterly
publication, Disney twenty-three; and the
latest news and stories on D23.com.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership
(complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest
D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on TikTok, Instagram,
Facebook, X, and YouTube.
For images, logos, videos, and press releases, please visit
D23Press.com.
Media Contact:
Bruce
Lam
The Walt Disney Company
Bruce.Lam@Disney.com
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SOURCE The Walt Disney Company