Roger Allers, Co-Director of Disney’s ‘The Lion King,’ Dies at 76

Roger Allers, a longtime Disney writer, director, and co-director of the 1994 animated classic The Lion King, has died at the age of 76.

His death was confirmed by veteran visual effects supervisor Dave Bossert, a close friend and collaborator, who shared the news on Facebook. Bossert wrote that the two had exchanged emails just days earlier while Allers was traveling in Egypt, making the loss feel “all the more unreal.”

“Roger was an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance,” Bossert wrote.

Allers co-directed The Lion King alongside Rob Minkoff. The film, featuring the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, and James Earl Jones, is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated films of all time. Released in 1994, it grossed approximately $771 million worldwide during its original theatrical run. Its 2019 live-action remake later became one of the highest-grossing films in cinema history, earning more than $1.6 billion globally.

Disney CEO Bob Iger paid tribute to Allers in a statement shared on Instagram, calling him “a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come.”

“He understood the power of great storytelling—how unforgettable characters, emotion and music can come together to create something timeless,” Iger wrote. “His work helped define an era of animation that continues to inspire audiences around the world.”

Beyond The Lion King, Allers had a long and influential career in animation. He directed the 2006 outdoor adventure film Open Season and the Oscar-nominated short The Little Matchgirl. He also worked as a writer and story developer on several major Disney films, including Aladdin, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Brother Bear, and contributed to the direct-to-video release The Lion King 1½.

Bossert, who collaborated closely with Allers on The Little Matchgirl, remembered him as a generous and uplifting presence.

“He carried a sense of wonder, generosity, and enthusiasm that lifted everyone around him,” Bossert wrote. “Roger had a joyful, luminous spirit, and the world is dimmer without him.”

Roger Allers is remembered as a key creative force behind some of Disney’s most enduring animated stories—films that continue to resonate with audiences decades after their release.