Don Lusk

Donald Lusk (October 28, 1913 – December 30, 2018)[1] was an American animator and director.

Don Lusk
Born	Donald R. Lusk (1913-10-28)October 28, 1913 Burbank, California, United States
Died	December 30, 2018(2018-12-30) (aged 105) San Clemente, California, United States
Occupation	Animator and director
Years active	1933–1993
Employer	Walt Disney Animation Studios (1933–1960) Hanna-Barbera (1960-1993)
Children	2

Early life

Lusk was born on October 28, 1913, in Burbank a suburb of Los Angeles, California. He served in the United States Marines during World War II.[1]

Career

Lusk was hired by The Walt Disney Company in 1933 as an Inbetweener. He was 20 at the time.[2] His first film as an animator was 1938's Ferdinand the Bull adapted from 1936's The Story of Ferdinand by author Munro Leaf.[3] He worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, Song of the South, Melody Time, So Dear to My Heart, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty and One Hundred and One Dalmatians.[4]

Lusk left Disney in 1960, but continued to work as an animator during the 1960s and 1970s. Aside from animation, Lusk also directed multiple cartoon films and series, including the Peanuts TV specials and movies and for the Hanna-Barbera studio. His work at the latter included The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, and Tom and Jerry.[5]

In the early 1990s, Lusk retired after a career which spanned some 60 years.[6]

Personal life and death

Lusk married Marge Lusk, who worked in the Personnel Department of Disney Studios in Burbank. The couple had two children. He died on December 30, 2018, in San Clemente, California, aged 105.[1] Long time friend, Navah-Paskowitz Asner, announced the news of his death on social media.[2]

Filmography

Year	Title	Credits	Characters
1940	Pinocchio	Animator
	Fantasia	Animator – Segments "The Nutcracker Suite" and "The Pastoral Symphony"
1942	Bambi	Animator
1946	Song of the South	Animator
1948	Melody Time	Character Animator
1949	So Dear to My Heart	Animator
	The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad	Character Animator
1950	Cinderella	Character Animator
1951	Alice in Wonderland	Character Animator
1952	Lambert the Sheepish Lion (Short)	Animator
	Trick or Treat (Short)	Animator
1953	Peter Pan	Character Animator
	Ben and Me (Short)	Animator
1955	Lady and the Tramp	Character Animator
1959	Sleeping Beauty	Character Animator
1954 – 1959	The Magical World of Disney (TV Series)	Animator – 5 Episodes
1961	One Hundred and One Dalmatians	Character Animator
2002	Mickey's House of Villains (Video)	Animator – Segment "Trick or Treat"

References

1. Barlett, Rhett (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, Animator on 'Pinocchio,' 'Fantasia' and Charlie Brown Specials, Dies at 105". The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles: Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group (Valence Media). Retrieved December 31, 2018.
2. Pederson, Erik (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk Dies: Disney Animator On 'Fantasia' & 'Bambi' Who Later Worked At Hsnna-Barbera Was 105". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
3. Beck, Jerry (November 1, 2010). "Happy 97th Birthday, Don Lusk!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
4. Amidi, Amid (October 28, 2013). "Happy Birthday! Disney Animator Don Lusk Turns 100 Today!". Cartoon Brew. United States: Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
5. Sippell, Margeaux (December 31, 2018). "Don Lusk, "Alice in Wonderland" and "Pinocchio" Animator, Dies at 105". Variety. Los Angeles: Variety Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 8, 2019.
6. Hulett, Steve (October 28, 2013). "Happy 100th!". The Animation Guild. Burbank, California: Blogger. Retrieved November 21, 2013.

External links

• Don Lusk on IMDb
• Audio interview with Don Lusk at The Animation Guild