Don (Donald) Iwerks, a former Disney executive known for advancing camera, projection, and large-format filmmaking, has died at age 96. Multiple outlets report that he passed away on July 9. Deadline says he died peacefully on Thursday at Ojai Community Memorial Care Center, surrounded by family and friends, citing an obituary shared by his family. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter describe Iwerks as a co-founder of Iwerks Entertainment and a longtime contributor to The Walt Disney Company, spending more than six decades on related projects.
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both highlight his role as a pioneer in cinematic and immersive technologies, including projection innovations and developments connected to 3D and large-format filmmaking. Variety also notes that he is the son of Ub Iwerks, the Mickey Mouse co-creator. Throughout his career, Iwerks receives industry recognition: The Hollywood Reporter reports he won the Gordon E. Sawyer Award in 1997 and was named a Disney legend in 2009. The reports collectively describe Iwerks as a key figure behind technical advances that expanded how audiences experience films and entertainment.
