Disney Legend Charles Boyer Passes Away
Disney Legend Charles Boyer passed away this week at the age of 86.
Boyer was Disneyland’s first full-time artist, working his way from a portrait sketch artist in 1960 up to “Master Illustrator”. His “temporary” job lasted 39 years.
“Footsteps” Photo Credit: Van Eaton Galleries
Artist Portfolio
The artist was known for capturing the unique, whimsical quality of Disney characters and theme park. He captured the vision, the heart of the magic, and put it on paper. Over the years Boyer produced nearly 50 collectible lithographs in addition to art for numerous magazine covers, brochures and flyers.
Photo Credit: Van Eaton Galleries
Some of Charles Boyer’s most notable works include the “Partners” lithograph, a portrait of Walt Disney holding the hand of Mickey Mouse. The artwork inspired the famous “Partners” statue that stands in front of the castles at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
“Triple Self Portrait” portrays Mickey Mouse looked at himself in a mirror as he sketches Walt Disney. The poignant work is a spoof of a famous Norman Rockwell painting of a man drawing himself while looking in the mirror.
“Triple Self-Portrait” Photo Credit: D23
Perhaps the most widely-known of Boyer’s work is “A Disneyland Tribute to Fire Fighters” (also known as “Mickey and the FIreman”), a piece created “In commemoration of their heroic efforts during the Southland fires of 1993.”
“A Disneyland Tribute to Fire Fighters” Photo Credit: D23
Disney Life
Photo Credit: Boyer family via the L.A. Times
Though his position as a sketch artist was supposed to be a “fill-in job”, Boyer lived his best life as a Disney Cast Member. Bruce Boyer, the artist’s son, told the LA Times,
He loved the fact that he was able to support his family, working for Disney. He would always take us to Disneyland and sometimes he would take us behind the scenes to show us the magic that was there.”
According to D23, at the time of his 1999 retirement, Boyer said,
I’ve worked with such great people. My wife used to ask if I was actually getting any work done, because I was having so much fun.”
Legendary Status
Charles Boyer was dubbed a Disney Legend in 2005. His name adorns the famous Legends windows on Disneyland’s Main Street, above the Emporium.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen, and survived by children Bruce and Naomi.
Photo Credit: D23
Feature Image Credit: D23
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