Donald Ross "Don" Lusk (October 28, 1913 – December 30, 2018) was an American animator and director.
Lusk joined Walt Disney Productions in 1933 and remained there until 1960, animating on most of the studio's features of the period, among them Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He interrupted that work to serve in the United States Marine Corps animation unit during World War II.
After leaving Disney he worked briefly for Walter Lantz Productions and then moved into direction, working on the Peanuts television specials for Bill Melendez and, from 1961, at Hanna-Barbera, where he directed episodes of series including The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo and The Smurfs. He received the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement in 2014 and, by the time of his death at 105, was the last surviving animator from Disney's golden age.
Early life Donald Ross Lusk was born on October 28, 1913, in Burbank, a suburb of Los Angeles, California to Perceval Knox Lusk and Louise Opie Ross Parrish, who were married in 1908 in California.California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images. He served in the United States Marine Corps for three years, during World War II, in its newly created Animation Unit.National Archives at St. Louis. (n.d.). WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940–03/31/1947. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group 147, Box 1089. National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
Career Lusk was hired by The Walt Disney Company in 1933 as an Inbetweener. His first film as an animator was 1938's Ferdinand the Bull adapted from 1936's The Story of Ferdinand by author Munro Leaf. He worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia (The Nutcracker Suite and The Pastoral Symphony Segments), 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.
Lusk left Disney in 1960, but continued to work as an animator during the 1960s and 1970s. During the early 1960s, he worked at Walter Lantz Productions under Jack Hannah's unit. 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. His Peanuts credits as an animator include A Boy Named Charlie Brown, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.
In the early 1990s, Lusk retired after a career which spanned some 60 years.
Recognition In 2014 Lusk was one of three recipients of the Winsor McCay Award, the animation industry's lifetime achievement award, presented at the 42nd Annie Awards alongside Didier Brunner and Lee Mendelson.
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. Long time friend, Navah-Paskowitz Asner, announced the news of his death on social media.
Filmography As animator (Walt Disney Productions) 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"
As director (selected) The Smurfs (1981–1989) The Flintstone Kids (1986–1988) Scooby-Doo television series
References
External links
Audio interview with Don Lusk at The Animation Guild Happy 104th Birthday, Disney Legend Don Lusk It's Time to Honor Don Lusk and Willis Pyle With A Winsor McCay Award