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Headline: DONALD DUCK PREPARES FOR SENIOR CITIZENSHIP
BURBANK, Calif., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's orneriest, most
cantankerous and yet still endearing duck is about to -- believe it or not
-- become a senior citizen.
Donald Duck will turn 60 on June 9.
The irascible duckling was "hatched" on June 9, 1934, with the release of
Walt Disney's Silly Symphony, "The Wise Little Hen," in which the
sailor-suited duck performed a dance.
The web-footed wonder seems the incarnation of every man, facing life
boldly against all odds. His quack is imitated the world around, in dozens
of languages, though few can really understand the words -- which is
perhaps just as well, given Donald's predilection for complaining.
The star of Academy Award winning films, Donald Duck has become one of
filmdom's most popular citizens. He has movie fans in 76 countries, is
featured in daily comic strips in more than 100 overseas newspapers and in
comic books published in 47 nations. He makes television appearances in 29
countries.
In the early 1930s, Walt Disney heard Los Angeles radio personality
Clarence Nash creating animal sounds. When Nash performed in a voice
intended to sound like a baby goat, Walt Disney declared, "that's our
talking duck."
For the next fifty years, Donald's distinctive voice was provided by
Clarence "Ducky" Nash, until his death in 1985.
Donald's second appearance was in "Orphan's Benefit" (1934). He was
given more lines, and his personality began to take the feisty direction
soon familiar worldwide. His hot temper, explosive tantrums and flustered
incompetence in the face of obstacles had audiences in stitches, while
empathizing with him in his rage against life's frustrations. By 1937,
Donald had become a star.
In that year Donald wooed a lady duck named Donna, who later became Daisy
Duck -- every bit Donald's match in independent thinking, fortitude and
tenacity, but without the fiery temper.
In a 1938 cartoon, Donald's nephews, Donald's sister Dumbella sent three
hellion nephews -- Huey, Dewey and Louie -- for Donald to look after. She
never returned.
Donald had roles in more than 150 short films, as well as in the feature
films "The Reluctant Dragon" (1941), "Saludos Amigos" (1943), "The Three
Caballeros" (1945), and the featurettes "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983)
and "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990). Donald's piano duel with a
cartoon colleague was a highlight of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988).
Donald Duck was drafted and served admirably in the Army during World War
II. His experiences were documented in many wartime shorts. One of the
most famous Donald Duck cartoons, "Der Fuehrer's Face" (1943), won the
Academy Award as Best Cartoon Short Subject of 1942-43.
Somehow, the Army overlooked his discharge. Finally, in 1984, the U.S.
Army granted an honorable discharge to Private Donald Fauntleroy Duck.
Donald also has starred in a number of "awareness" cartoons, including
"How to Have an Accident in the Home" (1956) and "How to Have an Accident
at Work" (1959). He starred in one of the most popular educational films
ever produced, "Donald in Mathmagic Land" (1959), later followed by
"Donald and the Wheel" (1961) and "The Litterbug" (1961). Many will
remember Donald's widely-screened safety production, "Donald's Fire
Survival Plan" (1966).
When Walt Disney began appearing on television in 1954, Donald Duck was
at his side, making numerous appearances over three decades on various
Disney shows.
Donald receives fan mail from around the world. In 1984, Donald received
one of the greatest show-biz honors, when he left his webbed footprints in
cement during a ceremony at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
He personally greets millions of guests annually at Disneyland, Walt
Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Euro Disneyland.
Donald now reaches a new generation of fans, in a variety of Disney
Channel programs including his series "Quack Attack," seen weekday
mornings.
"Duck Daze," an animated series starring Donald, is to premiere in the
Fall of 1995 as a part of The Disney Afternoon.
On the eve of his 60th birthday, Donald said, "I do my best to do right,
but practically everything goes wrong. Sometimes, the world is just a hat
with a brick underneath. But when all is said and done, I think I'm just
a little guy with a lot of pride."
To his adoring public, however, this quote from Noel Coward's "Brief
Encounter" seems more appropriate: "Thank heaven for Donald Duck."
/CONTACT: Ken Green of The Walt Disney Co., 818-560-6166/
12:50 EDT
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