Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 - December 15, 1966) was an American film producer, director (film director), screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon (Cultural icon) and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. As the co-founder (with his brother Roy O. Disney) of Walt Disney Productions, Disney became one of the best-known motion picture producers in the world. The corporation he co-founded, now known as The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion.

Disney is particularly noted for being a film producer and a popular showman, as well as an innovator in animation and theme park design. He and his staff created a number of the worlds most famous fictional characters including Mickey Mouse, a character for which Disney himself was the original voice. He has won 26 Academy Awards out of 59 nominations, including a record four in one year, giving him more awards and nominations than any other individual. He also won seven Emmy Awards. He is the namesake for Disneyland (Disneyland Park (Anaheim)) and Walt Disney World Resort theme parks in the United States, as well as the international resorts in Japan (Tokyo Disney), France (Disneyland Paris), and China (Disneyland Hong Kong).

Disney died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966, in 1967 construction began on Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. His brother Roy Disney (Roy O. Disney) opened & dedicated The Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. Epcot followed on October 1, 1982, Disneys Hollywood Studios formerly known as Disney MGM Studios on May 1, 1989, and Disneys Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998. The resort also includes hotels, restaurants, golf courses, water parks, campsites, sports & auto racing complex, a wedding pavilion (Disneys Wedding Pavilion), and other shopping & entertainment complexes, making the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida the number one vacation destination in the world.