The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Roger Allers, the animator, writer and director who co-directed the 1994 animated film The Lion King, died at age 76 on January 17, 2026. His family said he died at home in Santa Monica, California, and that the exact cause of death was pending.
Roger Allers’s death
Allers’s family announced his death in an obituary published by Animation World Network. The obituary did not provide a cause of death; it said the exact cause was pending. Disney colleague Dave Bossert remembered him as “an extraordinarily gifted artist and filmmaker, a true pillar of the Disney Animation renaissance.”
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![The Lion King [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD] [2017]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fgOennNiL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Lion King [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD] [2017] | $12.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![3 Movie Complete Collection: The Lion King (1-3) Box Set [Region Free Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gQ5geURwL._SL160_.jpg)
|
3 Movie Complete Collection: The Lion King (1-3) Box Set [Region Free Blu-ray] | $29.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![The Lion King 1-3 [Blu-ray] [1994] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wkuQRh1WL._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Lion King 1-3 [Blu-ray] [1994] [Region Free] | $14.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![The Lion King [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-70iUWf7L._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Lion King [Blu-ray] | $12.35 | Buy on Amazon |
His defining work on the 1994 animated The Lion King
Allers joined the project in 1991, when it was still called “King of the Jungle.” He traveled with the creative team to Kenya and was later promoted to director alongside Rob Minkoff. Their 1994 animated film became the top-grossing feature worldwide that year, according to the family obituary, and launched a major Disney franchise.
The Guardian reported that the film sold more than 55 million home-video copies worldwide. Its article does not identify the original source or measurement date for that figure. Allers and Minkoff also won the Golden Globe for best motion picture musical or comedy for the film, the Guardian reported.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
Allers’s career with Disney extended beyond the signature film. He joined Walt Disney Animation Studios full-time in 1985 as Head of Story on Oliver & Company, and contributed story work to The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under and Beauty and the Beast. His later work included Lilo & Stitch and The Emperor’s New Groove; he had worked on the project that began as Kingdom of the Sun and evolved into the latter film.
From Disney animation to a global stage musical
Allers and Irene Mecchi co-wrote the book for the Broadway adaptation of The Lion King, which premiered in 1997. The production won six Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical. A 2024 release from Shea’s Performing Arts Center said that, by then, 28 productions around the world had been seen by more than 112 million people since the November 13, 1997 premiere; those are figures reported in that release, not updated 2026 totals.
Rank #2
- Region Free Blu-ray
- 1080p High-Definition
- Digital Dolby
Other films and creative work
Allers’s directing credits included Disney’s short film The Little Matchgirl and Sony Pictures Animation’s Open Season. He also directed The Prophet, based on the writings of Kahlil Gibran.
Before joining Disney full-time, he worked with animation director Steven Lisberger on projects including Sesame Street and The Electric Company, and contributed story, character design and animation to Animalympics. His work also included concept design on TRON and story-artist contributions to Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland.
Rank #3
- blu-ray
- blu ray
- trilogy
Early life and path into animation
Born in Rye, New York, on June 29, 1949, Allers grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. His family’s obituary recalled that seeing Disney’s Peter Pan at age five helped inspire his interest in animation. He earned a Fine Arts degree at Arizona State University and later took a class at Harvard that renewed his ambitions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Tributes to Roger Allers
Disney CEO Bob Iger said, “Roger Allers was a creative visionary whose many contributions to Disney will live on for generations to come.” Sir Tim Rice, lyricist and a collaborator on The Lion King, recalled that Allers co-directed the film “with skill, warmth and humor,” adding that his humor was one reason they remained friends for more than 30 years.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Walt Disney Home Entertainment The Lion King (2-Disc Blu-Ray/DVD Diamond Edition)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
