‘The Lion King’ co-director Roger Allers passes away at 76; fans and friends pay tribute

TRIGGER WARNING: This article contains mentions of death.

Roger Allers, one of the most renowned and well-known animation directors in Hollywood, passed away at the age of 76 in his home in Santa Monica, California.

The news was confirmed through an official statement that was posted by Disney CEO Bob Iger. He wrote, “Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come.

He added, “Roger understood the power of great storytelling - how unforgettable characters, emotion, and music can come together to create something timeless. His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are deeply grateful for everything he gave to Disney.”

Not much was shared about the animation director's cause of death.

More about Roger Allers

The director was best known for his work on the legendary animated film ‘The Lion King.’ Other than that, he had also worked on many other projects that included, but were not limited to, ‘Open Season’, ‘The Little Matchgirl’, ‘Tron’, ‘Little Mermaid’, 'Alladin' and ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ to name a few.

Allers was born on June 29, 1949, in Rye, New York. From a young age, he had an inkling for art and other things in entertainment. After completing his schooling, he went to Arizona State University to get a degree in fine arts to further pursue a career in the arts stream.

Tributes pour in

Fans of the director, as well as co-workers took to social media platforms to share their sadness and pay tribute. Historian, creative director, and close friend David Bossert shared an emotional post about Allers, which called Allers an “extraordinarily gifted artist.”

A fan took to their social media hand and shared, “Saddened by the passing of director Roger Allers, who will certainly be remembered by THE LION KING. But I also love his ambitious omnibus project KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET, where he brought together animators from around the world including Tomm Moore and Bill Plympton. RIP.”Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”