Disney Announces the Passing of Disney Legend Ruthie Thompson
It is with a heavy heart that we here at MickeyBlog share the news that Ruthie Thompson a former Disney Animator has based away at the age of 111.
The news was first revealed by Bob Iger who took to Twitter with the following message:
RIP Ruthie Thompson…a true animation legend. Her contributions to Disney—from Snow White to The Rescuers—remain beloved classics to this day. While we will miss her smile & wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work & pioneering spirit will forever inspire us. pic.twitter.com/jbxeuRsjIW
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) October 11, 2021
Ruthie celebrated her 111th birthday on July 22nd. She moved to Oakland, California in 1918 and at the age of 18, took a job at Dubrock’s Riding Academy where Walt and Roy Disney would go to play polo.
Walt offered Ruthie a job as a painter in the Ink and Pain department where Ruthie would go on to add the finishing touches on Disney’s first full-length animated feature – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which premiered in 1937!.
Ruthie would move through the ranks at Disney eventually becoming final checker. In this role, she would review the animation cels before they were photographed onto film. then in 1948, Ruthie would go on to the animation checking and scene planning department.
Because of her skill in guiding the camera movement for animated films, in 1952, Ruthie was asked to join the International Photographers Union, becoming one of the first three women allowed in the Hollywood camera union.
Ruthie would go on to have an impressive career with 40 years of service at The Walt Disney Company. This included work on every Disney animated feature right up through The Rescuers. She would retire from the company 46 years ago in 1975!
For an interview that Ruthie did where she talks about her time at Disney including her involvement in Snow White, you can check it out here:
Our thoughts go out to Ruthie’s friends, family and colleagues.