ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disney has named 14 artists, including Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett and Miley Cyrus, who formed the company as “legends.”
Among the honorees, who the company says have had a “significant impact” on Disney’s legacy, are director James Cameron, acclaimed film composer John Williams, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kelly Ripa, among many others.
This year’s Disney Legends class was inducted into the company’s version of the Hall of Fame at a ceremony Sunday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., as some of the world’s top entertainers. Part of the D23 Fan ConferenceRyan Seacrest hosted the show, which will be available to stream on Disney+ Monday.
Ford, who was the first recipient of the award, called himself a “co-narrator,” noting the many contributions his colleagues had made to his career. He was deeply moved when he thanked Disney CEO Bob Iger, who presented him with the award, for his professional guidance and friendship.
The “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” actor’s signature and handprints will be reinstated more than 20 years after he was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Join the Marvel Cinematic Universe In the upcoming movie “Captain America: Brave New World.”
korch Cyrus was emotional as she accepted the award after country singer Lenny Wilson electrified the crowd with a rousing rendition of “The Best of Both Worlds” from Cyrus’ hit show “Hannah Montana.” “Legends get scared too. I’m scared right now, but the difference is we do it anyway. You can all do it every day. It’s legendary to be scared and do it anyway. There’s no such thing as failure when you try,” Cyrus said.
The singer, who rose to fame after playing a pop star on the 2006 sitcom “Hannah Montana,” is the youngest person ever to be named a legend. After her stint on the sitcom, Cyrus had a long career in music, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. first grammy award In February.
BassettBassett, who appeared in “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” reunited with the film’s director, Ryan Coogler, who presented her with the honor. Bassett also starred in the ABC series “9-1-1.”
“To the fans, you are magic,” Bassett said. “There are not enough words to express how much I appreciate you, how much I love you. I am here today because you bought tickets, watched the TV shows, cheered me on during my best days and lifted me up during my worst days.”
Lindsay Lohan and Jodie Foster teamed up to present Curtis with the award. Foster called her “best friend” “creative, courageous and full of surprises” before giving Curtis her vintage Mickey Mouse ears.
“Myths are not born,” Curtis said, “they are created. They are created, nurtured, taught, taught, then made into art, then communicated.”
Curtis She’s appeared in her share of projects under the Walt Disney Studios banner, from “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” to “You Again.” She’s set to reprise her role in the upcoming installment of the fan-favorite film “Freaky Friday,” opposite Lohan. Curtis and Lohan Surprise the fans At the D23 showcase on Friday, he shared a first look at “Freakier Friday.”
Ford returned to the stage to honor Williams, who composed the soundtracks for Ford’s blockbusters “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars,” as well as “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws,” among many others. Williams, Ford said, composed “the soundtrack to our lives.”
The Pacific Symphony Orchestra performed a selection of music composed especially for the occasion by Williams, who was not present.
“Titanic” and “Avatar” stars Kate Winslet and Zoe Saldana have teamed up to celebrate director James Cameron.
“It’s a dream come true,” Cameron said of being in the group with his fellow honorees. “There’s an incredible display of creativity and imagination here tonight and I’m so happy to be in this crowd, to be a part of this club and to be a part of the Disney family tonight.”
ABC talk show host and one of the most important talk show hosts Reba She reunited with her former co-host Seacrest when he introduced her to accept her honor. Her career in network television spans more than 30 years and she now hosts “Live with Kelly and Mark” with her husband Mark Consuelos.
“It’s very rare, anyone in this industry can tell you it’s very rare to be employed continuously in this industry, but to be employed by the same company for 34 years is my good fortune,” Ripa said. “I owe it all to Disney.”
Danny DeVito, a longtime friend and colleague of director James L. Brooks, presented the award to the creator of “The Simpsons” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” calling him a “genius.”
“There will never be another writer, director or producer like my dear friend,” DeVito said.
Disney also honored six behind-the-scenes creators who contributed to the production of groundbreaking Disney films, art and experiences.
Honorees include Colleen Atwood, an Oscar-winning costume designer; Mark Henn, a noted animator known for his work animating several Disney princesses; Steve Ditko, the late comic book artist known for characters such as Spider-Man and Doctor Strange; Frank Oz, the celebrated Muppet puppeteer and filmmaker; Martha Blanding, a longtime executive at The Walt Disney Company and Disneyland; and Joe Rood, a former Disney engineer.
Past Disney legends include Elton John, Steve Jobs, Betty White, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Downey Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg. They are among more than 300 people honored since the program began in 1987.
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