Passion or Profession: Film Animator and Businessman

Period: 1901–1966

Disney loved art from a young age, studying it in high school and through correspondence courses. After a few initial failures, he headed to Hollywood and began cartoon production, using his now-famous characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. His business spread from cartoons to full-length animated movies, live-action movies, and television. In 1955, he opened a theme park called Disneyland, which went on to become the most successful park in history. His company is now a multibillion dollar enterprise with a huge influence over culture in the United States and around the world.