Disney legend Burny Mattinson has died at the age of 87 following a short illness, The Walt Disney Company has confirmed.
He was the longest serving employee of the company and the last to have been part of the team when Walt Disney still ran it.
Among Burny's many roles over the years, he worked on productions such as Beauty and the Beast 1993 and Lady and the Tramp in 1955. His last production came last year with Strange World. He also played a part in producing classics such as 101 Dalmations (1961), The Jungle Book (1967), The Lion King (1994) and Mulan (1998).
Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, said in a statement: "Burny’s artistry, generosity, and love of Disney Animation and the generations of storytellers that have come through our doors, for seven decades, has made us better—better artists, better technologists, and better collaborators.
"All of us who have had the honor to know him and learn from him will ensure his legacy carries on."
The animator first started with the iconic studio in the 1950s.
His death comes just months before he was due to be awarded Disney's first ever 70th-anniversary service award.
His roles changed over his time with the company. After working as an artist, he became an assistant animator to one of the studio’s legendary Nine Old Men, Marc Davis, before working on storyboards.
According to the company, he was still working in a full-time role as a story consultant and a mentor when he died.
Among his achievements, Burny received praise for directing the animated feature Mickey’s Christmas Carol in 1983, which marked the return of Mickey Mouse to the screen for the first time three decades.
Following his death, a number of workers, friends and fans paid their respects with statements and social media posts.
Among them was Raya and the Last Dragon director Don Hall, who said: "For almost 30 years I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Burny Mattinson, from Winnie the Pooh to Big Hero 6 to, most recently, Strange World.
"I have marveled at his artistry, enjoyed his good humor, and sat enraptured by his stories of Disney history. At 18 years old, he followed his dream of working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and for almost 70 years he lived that dream every day, inspiring all of us who had the good fortune to follow in his footsteps. I love him dearly."
The Walt Disney Family Museum also wrote on Twitter: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of legendary animator, director, producer, and story artist Burny Mattinson.
"He was the longest-serving cast member in the history of The Walt Disney Company, and was to be honored for his 70-year career with Disney this year."
Burny is survived by his wife Ellen, his son Brett and his daughter, Genny.
