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Leslie James Clark (November 17, 1907 – September 12, 1979) was an American animator and the first of Disney's Nine Old Men, joining Walt Disney Productions in 1927.
Biography
1907–1927: Early life
Les Clark was born in Ogden, Utah in 1907, the eldest of 12 children to James Clark, a carpenter,[1] and Lute Wadsworth.[2] By 1910, the family lived in Salt Lake City[1] and by 1920, they lived in Twin Falls, Idaho.[3] By 1930, they lived in Los Angeles,[4] where Clark attended Venice High School. During high school, he worked a summer job at an ice cream shop near the Walt Disney Studio. Walt and Roy Disney were frequent patrons at the shop, and Walt had once complimented Les on his lettering job of the menus. Eventually, Clark asked Walt for a job. He recalled Walt's reply:
...[Walt said] 'Bring some of your drawings in and let's see what they look like.' So, I copied some cartoons and showed them to Walt. He said I had a good line, and why don't I come to work on Monday.[5]
1927–1954: Animator
In 1927, Clark began working the Monday after he graduated high school for a temporary position,[5][6] first as a camera operator and later as an ink and paint artist.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". At the time, the studio were finishing the Alice Comedies and starting work on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". In 1928, Disney traveled to New York to renegotiate their contract with Charles Mintz. Disney refused to accept a less acceptable contract leaving the character to Mintz, who held the character's copyrights.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". On the way back to Los Angeles, Disney and Ub Iwerks co-created Mickey Mouse as a replacement. Iwerks mainly animated the first Mickey Mouse cartoons Plane Crazy (1928), The Gallopin' Gaucho (1928), and Steamboat Willie (1928) in which Clark worked as an inbetweener.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". A year later, Clark made his debut as an animator for the first Silly Symphony short The Skeleton Dance (1929). He drew the scene of a skeleton playing on another skeleton's ribcage like a xylophone.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
In 1930, Iwerks left Disney to form his namesake studio. Clark then became the official animator for Mickey Mouse.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Most notably, Clark animated the character in the 1935 short The Band Concert.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". On the Silly Symphony short The Goddess of Spring (1934), Clark used his sister Marceil as a reference model for the character Persephone. After watching his finalized animation, Clark remembered: "I was very disappointed in my effort and I told Walt so."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
On Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Clark animated several scenes of the dwarfs during the "Silly Song" sequence, including Dopey smashing his face with a cymbal, Doc playing a horn, and Doc and Happy running from Sneezy's loud sneeze.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". He also animated the scene of the three dwarfs dancing with Snow White, a moment first filmed in live-action that used as a visual reference for the animators.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Clark then animated Mickey Mouse in The Sorcerer's Apprentice segment for Fantasia (1940). Clark animated the scenes in which Mickey "puts the hat on and starts bringing the brooms to life—the dance up the stairs and the water vats—until he exits over the water."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Clark also animated the Sugar Plum Fairies for The Nutcracker Suite segment.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Meanwhile, Clark animated a few scenes of the title character in Pinocchio (1940), most particularly when Pinocchio turns around when Geppetto inspects him before leaving for school.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". He next animated the train sequence to Baia in The Three Caballeros (1945). Andreas Deja complimented Clark's animation, writing it is "charming, as it chugs along to an energetic musical beat through a landscape that is reminiscent of a children's illustration."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
For Song of the South (1946), Clark handled the animation interacting with Uncle Remus (portrayed by James Baskett) during the "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" musical number.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". A year later, he animated the Singing Harp for the Mickey and the Beanstalk segment in Fun and Fancy Free (1947).Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Melody Time (1948) soon followed, in which Clark animated the bumblebee for the Bumble Boogie segment.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
On Cinderella (1950), Clark animated the title character, sharing the role with Eric Larson and Marc Davis.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". He also animated the title character in Alice in Wonderland (1951), most particularly the scene when she enlarges herself at the White Rabbit's house.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Clark then reteamed with Davis again on the character Tinker Bell for the 1953 film Peter Pan.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". For Lady and the Tramp (1955), Clark animated the scenes of Lady as a puppy.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
1955–1975: Directing career
After Lady and the Tramp (1955), Clark transitioned into becoming a director. He remembered Disney first approached him to direct in 1940, but he decided to remain an animator.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". During the mid-1950s, he was asked again and accepted the offer. For the Disneyland television program, he directed and animated the opening titles with Tinker Bell.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Also, he directed the "Five Senses" animated inserts with Jiminy Cricket for The Mickey Mouse Club.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". He made his feature directorial debut with Sleeping Beauty (1959), in which he directed the opening scene in which the townspeople arrive at the castle for Aurora's christening.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". He returned to directing educational animated shorts, including Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959), in which he directed a sequence with a pool table.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". His last project for Disney was Man, Monsters and Mysteries (1974).Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
He retired from Disney on September 30, 1975.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Personal life
During the late 1930s, Clark met Miriam Lauritzen, a set decorator and model, who had a son Richard from a previous marriage. Clark married Lauritzen and adopted Richard. In 1945, they had a daughter, Miriam. The couple divorced in 1952 due to Miriam's alcoholism.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". In 1967, Clark married his second wife, Georgia Vester, after meeting at an arts exhibit.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
He died of lung cancer in Santa Barbara, California on September 12, 1979.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credits | Characters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Animator | Snow White, Dopey, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Bashful | |
| 1940 | Pinocchio | Pinocchio | ||
| Fantasia | Animator - Segments "The Nutcracker Suite" and "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" | Mickey, the Sugar Plum Fairies | ||
| 1941 | Dumbo | Animator | ||
| 1943 | Saludos Amigos (Short) | |||
| 1945 | The Three Caballeros | Train | ||
| 1946 | Make Mine Music | |||
| Song of the South | Directing Animator | |||
| 1947 | Fun and Fancy Free | Singing Harp | ||
| 1948 | You Were Meant for Me | Choreographer | ||
| Melody Time | Directing Animator | Bumblebee (Bumble Boogie) | ||
| So Dear to My Heart | Animator | |||
| 1949 | The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad | Character Animator (uncredited) | ||
| 1950 | Cinderella | Directing Animator | Cinderella | |
| 1951 | Plutopia (Short) | Animator | ||
| Alice in Wonderland | Directing Animator | Alice | ||
| 1952 | The Little House (Short) | Animator | ||
| 1953 | Peter Pan | Directing Animator | Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily | |
| Ben and Me (Short) | Animator | |||
| 1954 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Special Effects - 1 Episode | ||
| 1955 | Lady and the Tramp | Directing Animator | Lady (as a puppy) | |
| You the Human Animal (Short) | Director | |||
| Contrast in Rhythm (Short) | Animator | |||
| 1956 - 1958 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Animator - 3 Episodes | ||
| 1958 | Paul Bunyan[8] (Short) | Director | ||
| 1959 | Sleeping Beauty | Sequence Director | ||
| Donald in Mathmagic Land (Short) | ||||
| 1961 | One Hundred and One Dalmatians | Character Animator | ||
| Donald and the Wheel (Short) | Animator | |||
| 1961 - 1970 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Director - 3 Episodes | ||
| 1962 | A Symposium on Popular Songs (Short) | Animator | ||
| 1963 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Sequence Director - 1 Episode | ||
| The Sword in the Stone | Character Animator (uncredited) | |||
| 1964 | The Restless Sea (TV Movie Documentary) | Director | ||
| 1965 | Freewayphobia #1 (Short) | |||
| Steel and America (Short) | ||||
| Donald's Fire Survival Plan (Short) | ||||
| Goofy's Freeway Troubles (Short) | ||||
| 1967 | Family Planning (Short) | |||
| 1968 | The Mickey Mouse Anniversary Show | Animator | ||
| 1969 | Physical Fitness and Good Health (Short) | Director | ||
| The Social Side of Health (Short) | ||||
| The Project (Short) | ||||
| The Game (Short) | ||||
| The Fight (Short) | ||||
| Steps Towards Maturity and Health (Short) | ||||
| 1970 | New Girl (Short) | |||
| Lunch Money (Short) | ||||
| 1972 | The Great Search: Man's Need for Power and Energy (Documentary short) | |||
| 1973 | VD Attack Plan (Short) | |||
| I'm No Fool with Electricity (Short) | ||||
| 1974 | Man, Monsters and Mysteries (Short) | |||
| 1980 | Mickey Mouse Disco (Short) | Animator | ||
| 1984 | DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues (Video) | |||
| DTV: Pop & Rock (Video) | ||||
| DTV: Golden Oldies (Short) | ||||
| 2000 | Fantasia 2000 | Animator - Segment "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" | Archive Footage |
References
Sources
External links
Template:Navboxes Template:Walt Disney Animation Studios
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1910 United States Federal Census
- ↑ Utah, Birth Certificates, 1903-1911
- ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census
- ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news Template:Open access
- ↑ Template:Cite news