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{{Short description|American animator and director (1907–1979)}}
{{No footnotes|date=September 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Les Clark
| name = Les Clark
| image =Les-clark-feat.jpg
| birth_name = Leslie James Clark
| birth_name = Leslie James Clark
| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|11|17|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1907|11|17|mf=y}}
Line 7: Line 9:
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|9|12|1907|11|17|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|9|12|1907|11|17|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Santa Barbara, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Santa Barbara, California]], U.S.
| occupation = Animator, film director
| death_cause = [[Cancer]]
| years_active = 1927–1975
| occupation = Animator
| known_for = One of [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]'s [[Disney's Nine Old Men|Nine Old Men]]
| known_for = One of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
| spouse = {{marriage|Georgia Vester<br>|August 11, 1967|September 12, 1979|end=his death}}<br>Miriam Lauritzen <br>(m. ?; div. 1952)
* {{marriage|Miriam Lauritzen||1952|end=div}}
| children = 2 Richard Boone Clark
* {{marriage|Georgia Vester|August 11, 1967}}
}}
| children = 2
}}
}}


'''Leslie James "Les" Clark''' (November 17, 1907 – September 12, 1979) was the first of [[Disney's Nine Old Men]]. Joining Disney in 1927, he was the only one to work on the origins of [[Mickey Mouse]] with [[Ub Iwerks]].
'''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 Animation Studios|Walt Disney Productions]] in 1927.


==Biography==
== The Disney Studio ==
===1907–1927: Early life===
[[Walt Disney]] complimented Les on the lettering he made for the menus on the mirrors at the candy store. Two years later in 1927, about to graduate from [[Venice High School (Los Angeles)|Venice High School]], Disney hired him.
Les Clark was born in [[Ogden, Utah]] in 1907, the eldest of 12 children to James Clark, a carpenter,<ref name="1910 United States Federal Census">1910 United States Federal Census</ref> and Lute Wadsworth.<ref>Utah, Birth Certificates, 1903-1911</ref> By 1910, the family lived in [[Salt Lake City]]<ref name="1910 United States Federal Census"/> and by 1920, they lived in [[Twin Falls, Idaho]].<ref>1920 United States Federal Census</ref> By 1930, they lived in [[Los Angeles]],<ref>1930 United States Federal Census</ref> where Clark attended [[Venice High School (Los Angeles)|Venice High School]]. During high school, he worked a summer job at an ice cream shop near the [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Studio]]. [[Walt Disney|Walt]] and [[Roy O. Disney|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:


<blockquote>...[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.<ref name="ClarkD23">{{cite web |title=Les Clark |url=https://d23.com/walt-disney-legend/les-clark/ |website=[[D23 (Disney)|D23]] |publisher=[[The Walt Disney Company]] |access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref></blockquote>
Clark graduated from high school on a Thursday and reported to work the following Monday, February 23, 1927. By the time he retired in 1975, Les Clark was a senior animator and director, and the "longest continuously employed member of Walt Disney Productions."


===1927–1954: Animator===
For his first six months he operated the [[animation camera]], then spent a subsequent six months as an inker-painter, tracing hundreds of animation drawings onto sheets of clear celluloid acetate ("cels") in ink with a crow-quill pen and painted them on the reverse side with opaque colors ([[black]], [[white]], and [[gray]] only, in the pre-[[Technicolor]] days). [[Ub Iwerks]], who became Clark's mentor, was the studio's top animator.
In 1927, Clark began working the Monday after he graduated high school for a temporary position,<ref name="ClarkD23" /><ref name="Les Clark">{{Cite web |last=Trimmer |first=Tracie |url=http://www.waltdisney.com/tags/les-clark |title=The First of the Nine: Les Clark |website=[[Walt Disney Family Museum]] |date=2017-02-08 |access-date=2017-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522134940/http://www.waltdisney.com/tags/les-clark |archive-date=2017-05-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> first as a camera operator and later as an ink and paint artist.{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=2}} At the time, the studio were finishing the ''[[Alice Comedies]]'' and starting work on [[Oswald the Lucky Rabbit]].{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=121}} 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.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=12}}{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=2}} 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 [[Inbetweening|inbetweener]].{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=13}} 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.{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=121}}


In 1930, Iwerks left Disney to form his [[Iwerks Studio|namesake studio]]. Clark then became the official animator for Mickey Mouse.{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=4}} Most notably, Clark animated the character in the 1935 short ''[[The Band Concert]]''.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|pp=19–20}} 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."{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|pp=17–18}}{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=133}}
== Animation ==
[[Ub Iwerks]] animated ''[[Steamboat Willie]]'' at his usual breakneck speed (it was completed in two months), Clark assisted by in-betweening drawings, and Wilfred Jackson animated a brief scene of [[Minnie Mouse]] running along a riverbank.


On ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|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.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=25}} He also animated the scene of the three dwarfs dancing with [[Snow White (Disney character)|Snow White]], a moment first filmed in live-action that used as a visual reference for the animators.{{sfn|Thomas|Johnston|1981|p=329}} Clark then animated Mickey Mouse in ''The Sorcerer's Apprentice'' segment for ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|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."{{sfn|Ghez|2012|p=36}}{{sfn|Culhane|1983|p=25}} Clark also animated the Sugar Plum Fairies for ''The Nutcracker Suite'' segment.{{sfn|Culhane|1983|p=58}}
To handle the increased production load, Walt began recruiting experienced New Yorks animators; Ben Sharpsteen, [[Burt Gillett]], [[Jack King (animator)|Jack King]], and [[Norm Ferguson (animator)|Norman Ferguson]] ("Fergy") who arrived at the studio between March and August 1929.


Meanwhile, Clark animated a few scenes of the title character in ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' (1940), most particularly when Pinocchio turns around when Geppetto inspects him before leaving for school.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=26}} He next animated the train sequence to [[Bahia|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."{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=9}}
Les Clark's debut as an animator came in the first [[Silly Symphony]], ''[[The Skeleton Dance]]'' (delivered on May 10, 1929): a scene of a [[skeleton]] playing the [[ribs]] of a bony buddy like a [[xylophone]].


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.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=26}} A year later, he animated the Singing Harp for the ''Mickey and the Beanstalk'' segment in ''[[Fun and Fancy Free]]'' (1947).{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=10}} ''[[Melody Time]]'' (1948) soon followed, in which Clark animated the bumblebee for the ''Bumble Boogie'' segment.{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=10}}
== Filmography ==
<!--Do not add Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It came out in 1937, Reitherman started animating in 1940.!-->


On ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'' (1950), Clark animated [[Cinderella (Disney character)|the title character]], sharing the role with [[Eric Larson]] and [[Marc Davis (animator)|Marc Davis]].{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=11}} He also animated the title character in ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1951), most particularly the scene when she enlarges herself at the White Rabbit's house.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=28}}{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=12}} Clark then reteamed with Davis again on the character [[Tinker Bell (Disney character)|Tinker Bell]] for the 1953 film ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]''.{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=13}} For ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]'' (1955), Clark animated the scenes of Lady as a puppy.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=26}}
{| class="wikitable"

|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
===1955–1975: Directing career===
! Year || Film || Role || character
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.{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=129}} During the mid-1950s, he was asked again and accepted the offer. For the ''[[Disney anthology television series|Disneyland]]'' television program, he directed and animated the opening titles with Tinker Bell.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=28}} Also, he directed the "Five Senses" animated inserts with [[Jiminy Cricket]] for ''[[The Mickey Mouse Club]]''.{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=129}} He made his feature directorial debut with ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'' (1959), in which he directed the opening scene in which the townspeople arrive at the castle for Aurora's christening.{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=15}} He returned to directing educational animated shorts, including ''[[Donald in Mathmagic Land]]'' (1959), in which he directed a sequence with a pool table.{{sfn|Peri|2008|p=132}} His last project for Disney was ''Man, Monsters and Mysteries'' (1974).{{sfn|Deja|2015|p=15}}

He retired from Disney on September 30, 1975.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=28}}

== 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.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=25}} In 1967, Clark married his second wife, Georgia Vester, after meeting at an arts exhibit.{{sfn|Canemaker|2001|p=28}}

He died of lung cancer in [[Santa Barbara, California]] on September 12, 1979.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-les-c/139988330/ |title=Les Clark, Animator of Mickey Mouse, Snow White |work=Los Angeles Times |at=Part I, p. 18 |date=September 17, 1979 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! Year
| {{Start date|1937|12|21}} (premiere)<br/>{{Start date|1938|2|}} (United States)
! Title
| ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]] ''
! Credits
|rowspan=7|Animator
! Characters
| [[Dwarf (mythology)|Dwarfs]]
! Notes
|-
|-
| 1937 || ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'' || rowspan="2" | Animator || [[Snow White (Disney character)|Snow White]], Dopey, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, Grumpy, Bashful ||
| {{Start date|1940|02|07}}
| ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]''
| [[Pinocchio]]
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1940 || ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'' || Pinocchio ||
| {{Start date|1940|11|13}}
| ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]''
| [[Mickey Mouse]], Sugar Plum Fairies
|-
|-
|''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'' || Animator - Segments "''[[The Nutcracker|The Nutcracker Suite]]''" and "''[[The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dukas)|The Sorcerer's Apprentice]]''" || Mickey, the Sugar Plum Fairies ||
| {{Start date|1941|10|31}}
| ''[[Dumbo]]''
|Dumbo, a little bit of Timothy
|-
|-
| 1941 || ''[[Dumbo]]'' || rowspan="4" | Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1942|8|24}} (World Premiere-Rio de Janeiro)<br/>{{Start date|1943|2|6}} (U.S. Premiere-Boston)<br/>{{Start date|1943|2|19}} (U.S.)
| ''[[Saludos Amigos]]''
|
|-
|-
| 1943 || ''[[Saludos Amigos]]'' (Short) || ||
| {{Start date|1944|12|21}} (Mexico City)<br/>{{Start date|1945|2|3}} (U.S.)
| ''[[The Three Caballeros]]''
|Train to Baia sequence
|-
|-
| 1945 || ''[[The Three Caballeros]]'' || Train ||
| {{Start date|1946|4|20}} (Premiere-New York City)<br/>{{Start date|1946|8|15}} (U.S.)
| ''[[Make Mine Music]]''
|
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1946 || ''[[Make Mine Music]]'' || ||
| {{Start date|1946|11|12}} (Premiere-Atlanta)<br/>{{Start date|1946|11|20}} (U.S.)
| [[Song of the South]]
|rowspan=4|Directing Animator
|Minor Characters
|-
|-
|''[[Song of the South]]'' || rowspan="2" |Directing Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1947|9|27}}
| ''[[Fun and Fancy Free]]''
|Bongo, Lulubelle
|-
|-
| 1947 || ''[[Fun and Fancy Free]]'' || Singing Harp ||
| {{Start date|1948|5|27}}
| ''[[Melody Time]]''
|Bumble Boogie
|-
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1948 || ''[[You Were Meant for Me (film)|You Were Meant for Me]]'' || Choreographer || ||
| {{Start date|1949|1|19}} (Premiere-Indianapolis)<br/>{{Start date|1949|1|30}} (U.S.)
| ''[[So Dear to My Heart]]''
|
|-
|-
|''[[Melody Time]]'' || Directing Animator || Bumblebee (''Bumble Boogie'') ||
| {{Start date|1949|10|5}}
| ''[[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]]''
|Animator
|Ichabod
|-
|-
|''[[So Dear to My Heart]]'' || Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1950|2|15}} (U.S. Premiere-Boston)<br/>{{Start date|1949|3|4}} (U.S.)
| ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]''
|rowspan=5|Directing Animator
|[[Cinderella (Disney character)|Cinderella]], [[Prince Charming|Prince]]
|-
|-
|1949 || ''[[The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad]]'' || Character Animator (uncredited) || ||
| {{Start date|1951|7|26}} (World premiere-London)<br/>{{Start date|1951|7|28}} (U.S.)
| ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]''
|[[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice]]
|-
|-
|1950 || ''[[Cinderella (1950 film)|Cinderella]]'' || Directing Animator || [[Cinderella (Disney character)|Cinderella]] ||
| {{Start date|1953|2|5}}
| ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]''
|Peter, Wendy Darling, Tiger Lily
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1951 || ''Plutopia'' (Short) || Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1953|11|10}}
| ''[[Ben and Me]]''
|
|-
|-
|''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' || Directing Animator || Alice ||
| {{Start date|1955|6|22}}
| ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]''
|Lady as a puppy, Christmas scene at the end
|-
|-
| 1952 || ''The Little House'' (Short) || Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1958|8|1}}
| [[Paul Bunyan (film)|Paul Bunyan]]<ref name=awn>{{cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Wolfe|title=Animator Lee Hartman Dies at 82 |url=http://www.awn.com/news/passing/animator-lee-hartman-dies-82 |work=[[Animation World Network]] |publisher= |date=2012-12-31 |accessdate=2013-01-06}}</ref>
| Director
|
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1953 || ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' || Directing Animator || Tinker Bell, [[Tiger Lily (Peter Pan)|Tiger Lily]] ||
| {{Start date|1959|1|29}}
| ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]''
|rowspan=2|Sequence Director
|
|-
|-
|''[[Ben and Me]]'' (Short) || Animator || ||
| {{Start date|1959|6|26}}
| ''[[Donald in Mathmagic Land]]''
|
|-
|-
| 1954 || ''[[Walt Disney anthology television series|The Magical World of Disney]]'' (TV Series) || Special Effects - ''[[List of Walt Disney anthology television series episodes|1 Episode]]'' || ||
| {{Start date|1961|1|25}}
|-
| ''[[One Hundred and One Dalmatians]]''
|rowspan="3"| 1955 || ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]'' || Directing Animator || Lady (as a puppy) ||
|Animator
|-
|Roger and Anita
|''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 (film)|Paul Bunyan]]''<ref name=awn>{{cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Wolfe|title=Animator Lee Hartman Dies at 82 |url=http://www.awn.com/news/passing/animator-lee-hartman-dies-82 |work=[[Animation World Network]] |date=2012-12-31 |access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> (Short) || Director || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1959 || ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'' || rowspan="2" | Sequence Director || ||
|-
|''[[Donald in Mathmagic Land]]'' (Short) || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1961 || ''[[One Hundred and One Dalmatians (film)|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 || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1963 || ''The Magical World of Disney'' (TV Series) || Sequence Director - ''1 Episode'' || ||
|-
|''[[The Sword in the Stone (1963 film)|The Sword in the Stone]]'' || Character Animator (uncredited) || ||
|-
| 1964 || ''The Restless Sea (TV Movie Documentary)'' || rowspan="6" | Director || ||
|-
|rowspan="4"| 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 || ||
|-
|rowspan="6"| 1969 || ''Physical Fitness and Good Health (Short)'' || rowspan="12" | Director || ||
|-
|''The Social Side of Health'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''The Project'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''The Game'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''The Fight'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''Steps Towards Maturity and Health'' (Short) || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1970 || ''New Girl'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''Lunch Money'' (Short) || ||
|-
| 1972 || ''The Great Search: Man's Need for Power and Energy'' (Documentary short) || ||
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1973 || ''VD Attack Plan'' (Short) || ||
|-
|''I'm No Fool with Electricity'' (Short) || ||
|-
| 1974 || ''Man, Monsters and Mysteries'' (Short) || ||
|-
| 1980 || ''Mickey Mouse Disco'' (Short) || rowspan="4" | Animator || ||
|-
|rowspan="3"| 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 ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

*Canemaker, John. (2001). Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation. New York, NY: Disney Editions. ISBN 0-7868-6496-6
==Sources==
* {{cite book|last=Canemaker|first=John|title=Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation|url=https://archive.org/details/waltdisneysnineo0000cane|year=2001|publisher=Disney Editions|isbn=978-0-786-86496-6|url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last=Culhane|first=John|title=Walt Disney's Fantasia|url=https://archive.org/details/waltdisneysfanta00culh/|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|year=1983|isbn=978-3-8228-0393-6|url-access=registration}}
*{{cite book|last=Deja|first=Andreas|chapter=Les Clark|title=The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great Animators|publisher=[[Routledge]]|pages=1–31|year=2015|isbn=978-1-1350-1586-2}}
* {{cite book|editor-last=Ghez|editor-first=Didier|chapter=Les Clark by John Culhane|title=Walt's People: Volume 12—Talking Disney with the Artists who Knew Him|year=2012|publisher=Theme Park Press|pages=29–41|isbn=978-1-4771-4789-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Frank |last2=Johnston |first2=Ollie |title=[[Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life]] |year=1981 |publisher=[[Abbeville Press]] |isbn=0-89659-233-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Peri|first=Don|title=Working with Walt: Interviews with Disney Artists|chapter=Les Clark|year=2008|pages=119–133|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|isbn=978-1-604-73023-4}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0164203|name=Les Clark}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0164203|name=Les Clark}}
* {{Find a Grave|53576523}}


{{Navboxes
{{Nine Old Men}}
|title = Awards for Les Clark
|list =
{{Disney Legends Awards 1980s}}
{{Winsor McCay Award 1990s}}
}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}
{{Walt Disney Animation Studios}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Clark, Les
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American animator
| DATE OF BIRTH = November 17, 1907
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Ogden, Utah
| DATE OF DEATH = September 12, 1979
| PLACE OF DEATH = Santa Barbara, California
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Les}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Les}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:1979 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Utah]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:American animators]]
[[Category:American animated film directors]]
[[Category:Animated film directors]]
[[Category:Animators from Utah]]
[[Category:Cancer deaths in California]]
[[Category:Animators from California]]
[[Category:Disney people]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in California]]
[[Category:Disney Legends]]
[[Category:Film directors from Utah]]
[[Category:Venice High School (Los Angeles) alumni]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Animation Studios people]]

Latest revision as of 22:31, 22 November 2024

Les Clark
Born
Leslie James Clark

(1907-11-17)November 17, 1907
Ogden, Utah, U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 1979(1979-09-12) (aged 71)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Animator, film director
Years active1927–1975
Known forOne of Disney's Nine Old Men
Spouses
Miriam Lauritzen
​
(div. 1952)​
Georgia Vester
​
(m. 1967)​
Children2

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

[edit]

1907–1927: Early life

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[7] At the time, the studio were finishing the Alice Comedies and starting work on Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.[8] 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.[9][7] 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.[10] 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.[8]

In 1930, Iwerks left Disney to form his namesake studio. Clark then became the official animator for Mickey Mouse.[11] Most notably, Clark animated the character in the 1935 short The Band Concert.[12] 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."[13][14]

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.[15] 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.[16] 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."[17][18] Clark also animated the Sugar Plum Fairies for The Nutcracker Suite segment.[19]

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.[20] 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."[21]

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.[20] A year later, he animated the Singing Harp for the Mickey and the Beanstalk segment in Fun and Fancy Free (1947).[22] Melody Time (1948) soon followed, in which Clark animated the bumblebee for the Bumble Boogie segment.[22]

On Cinderella (1950), Clark animated the title character, sharing the role with Eric Larson and Marc Davis.[23] 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.[24][25] Clark then reteamed with Davis again on the character Tinker Bell for the 1953 film Peter Pan.[26] For Lady and the Tramp (1955), Clark animated the scenes of Lady as a puppy.[20]

1955–1975: Directing career

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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.[27] 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.[24] Also, he directed the "Five Senses" animated inserts with Jiminy Cricket for The Mickey Mouse Club.[27] 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.[28] He returned to directing educational animated shorts, including Donald in Mathmagic Land (1959), in which he directed a sequence with a pool table.[29] His last project for Disney was Man, Monsters and Mysteries (1974).[28]

He retired from Disney on September 30, 1975.[24]

Personal life

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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.[15] In 1967, Clark married his second wife, Georgia Vester, after meeting at an arts exhibit.[24]

He died of lung cancer in Santa Barbara, California on September 12, 1979.[30]

Filmography

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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[31] (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

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  1. ^ a b 1910 United States Federal Census
  2. ^ Utah, Birth Certificates, 1903-1911
  3. ^ 1920 United States Federal Census
  4. ^ 1930 United States Federal Census
  5. ^ a b "Les Clark". D23. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  6. ^ Trimmer, Tracie (February 8, 2017). "The First of the Nine: Les Clark". Walt Disney Family Museum. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Deja 2015, p. 2.
  8. ^ a b Peri 2008, p. 121.
  9. ^ Canemaker 2001, p. 12.
  10. ^ Canemaker 2001, p. 13.
  11. ^ Deja 2015, p. 4.
  12. ^ Canemaker 2001, pp. 19–20.
  13. ^ Canemaker 2001, pp. 17–18.
  14. ^ Peri 2008, p. 133.
  15. ^ a b Canemaker 2001, p. 25.
  16. ^ Thomas & Johnston 1981, p. 329.
  17. ^ Ghez 2012, p. 36.
  18. ^ Culhane 1983, p. 25.
  19. ^ Culhane 1983, p. 58.
  20. ^ a b c Canemaker 2001, p. 26.
  21. ^ Deja 2015, p. 9.
  22. ^ a b Deja 2015, p. 10.
  23. ^ Deja 2015, p. 11.
  24. ^ a b c d Canemaker 2001, p. 28.
  25. ^ Deja 2015, p. 12.
  26. ^ Deja 2015, p. 13.
  27. ^ a b Peri 2008, p. 129.
  28. ^ a b Deja 2015, p. 15.
  29. ^ Peri 2008, p. 132.
  30. ^ "Les Clark, Animator of Mickey Mouse, Snow White". Los Angeles Times. September 17, 1979. Part I, p. 18. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  31. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (December 31, 2012). "Animator Lee Hartman Dies at 82". Animation World Network. Retrieved January 6, 2013.

Sources

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