This Year’s Presidential Medal of Freedom Class Features Many Disney Ties

President Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on an eclectic group of 18 honorees today, including a handful of individuals with strong Disney ties.

This year’s Medal of Freedom recipients included Jose Andres, Bono, Ashton B. Carter, Hillary Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Tim Gill, Jane Goodall, Fannie Lou Hamer, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy, Ralph Lauren, Bill Nye, George W. Romney, David M. Rubenstein, George Soros, George Stevens Jr, Denzel Washington, Anna Wintour, and Lionel Messi.

Photo: WWD

Here is how some of the honorees have impacted the wonderful world of Disney.

Chef Jose Andres

While Chef Jose Andres is known throughout the world for his Spanish cuisine and humanitarian efforts, Disney fans will likely recognize the culinary genius’s name from Disney Springs.

Photo Credit: Our Local Commons

Jaleo by Chef Jose Andrews opened at Disney Springs in 2019 and has been a fan-favorite spot ever since!

Bill Nye

Billy Nye may be best known for his educational children’s show Bill Nye the Science Guy (which was distributed by Buena Vista Television), but the popular scientist has been a staple of Walt Disney World for decades.

Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Nye made his Disney Parks debut in 1996 when he starred in Ellen’s Energy Crisis (later named Ellen’s Energy Adventure). The attraction will continue to operate in the Universe of Energy pavilion until it closes in 2017.

Photo: Disney

Guests can still hear Nye’s voice in the DInosaur queue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Here, he shines a light on some of the Dino Institute’s fossils and specimen.

Michael J. Fox

Over the course of Michael J. Fox’s illustrious career, which included starring roles in Family Ties, Spin City, and the Back to the Future series, the actor has worked with Disney from time to time.

Image: MichaelJFox.org

Fox provided the voice of Chance in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and its sequel. He also lent his talents to Atlantis: The Lost Empire, where he voiced protagonist Milo Thatch.

Denzel Washington

Like Michael J. Fox, Denzel Washinton’s most famous roles have come outside Disney.

Nevertheless, Washington had a memorable performance in 2000’s Remember the Titans for Disney and also starred in the Touchstone films The Preacher’s Wife and He Got Game.

Before he retires from action, Washington will team up with Disney one more time for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 3.

Lionel Messi

While the name Lionel Messi may not be synonymous with Disney, the soccer superstar is currently cooking something up with the studio.

Photo: Disney/Sony

Late last year, Disney acquired the new animated series Messi and the Giants, which is expected to debut this year.

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