Disney Legend Don Iwerks Dies at 96
Disney Legend Don Iwerks, a technical innovator whose work helped change how Disney films and theme park attractions were photographed and projected, died on July 9, 2026. He was 96.
Iwerks joined Walt Disney Productions in 1950 as a technician in the special photographic processes laboratory. He was drafted during the Korean War, spending two years in the Signal Photo Corps. He eventually returned to Disney to lead the Machine Shop and Camera Service Department and eventually the Technical Engineering and Manufacturing Division.
Iwerks helped develop the Circle-Vision camera system, first used in Disneyland’s Circarama, U.S.A. attraction. The technology eventually made its way to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and other Disney parks around the world.
In addition to Circle-Vision, Iwerks developed equipment for Disney’s attractions at the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair and later contributed to the projection and theater systems used at EPCOT. He also worked on the 3-D presentation and in-theater effects for Captain EO and the projection system behind Star Tours.
A family legacy
Don joined Disney with a well-known last name. His father, Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, helped create Mickey Mouse and pioneered animation and special-effects technology to become one of the most important figures in the company’s early history. But Don did plenty to make a name for himself during his 35 years with the company.
The two collaborated to refine the sodium vapor process that helped combine live action, animation, and painted backgrounds. The system was vital to the success of Mary Poppins.
After leaving Disney in 1986, he founded Iwerks Entertainment, which developed giant-screen theaters and 3-D attractions. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his contributions to film technology with the Gordon E. Sawyer Award in 1997. Disney named him a Disney Legend in 2009. Those are serious accolades, but an even bigger honor might be the window he and his father share on Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. Look for “Iwerks–Iwerks Stereoscopic Cameras” the next time you’re in the park.
Don’s daughter, Leslie, has carried on the family’s Disney legacy. The filmmaker is responsible for several documentaries about the company, as well as Pixar and Industrial Light & Magic. Disneyland Handcrafted, her most recent film, sources original footage to document the creation of Disneyland. It’s a must for any Disney parks fan.
Our thoughts are with Don’s wife of 54 years, Betty; his sons, John and Larry; and his daughter, Leslie.
