Born: 1901 March 24 in Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Died: 1971 July 7 in Burbank, California, United States
Biography: Ub Iwerks was an American cartoonist and animator of German descent. He was one of Walt Disney's oldest friends; they met in 1919 while working as illustrators for the Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio in Kansas City. He and Disney later formed their own commercial illustration business together, and then Iwerks followed Disney into animation. After their first animation studio failed, Iwerks followed Disney to California, where he joined Disney's new studio and became his chief animator.
Iwerks created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927, but he and Disney soon lost the character to Universal. He then helped create Mickey Mouse with Disney. He was Disney's chief animator for the latter part of the '20s, when they produced the first Mickey and Silly Symphony shorts. He worked with Disney on the initial development of the Mickey Mouse comic strip, but by 1930 he and Disney had fallen out and he left to found his own studio.
Iwerks studio lasted for 10 years, but never attained the status of the Disney, Fleisher, Warner Bros., or rival studios. In 1940 Iwerks returned to Disney, where he began to specialize in technical effects, like developing new ways to mix animation with live action.
Iwerks died of a myocardial infarction in 1971 in Burbank, California, aged 70.
Notes: To be confirmed against the Who's Who entry.
- Issue Checklist (via credit search for name "Ub Iwerks")
- Issue Checklist (via linked credit records)
- Issue Overview (via linked credit records)
- List of to be migrated issues (via credit search for name "Ub Iwerks")
- Issue Edit List (via linked credit records)
- Cover List (via linked credit records)
- Series List (via linked credit records)
- Characters List (via linked credit records)
- Features List (via linked credit records)
- Sequences List (via linked credit records)
- Story Credits in the GCD (via search for "Ub Iwerks")
- Co-Creators List (via linked credit records)
- Who's Who of American Comic Books
Name:
-
Ub Iwerks
Type: Changed Name
Other Names:
-
Ubbe Ert Iwwerks
Type: Name at Birth
Given name: Ubbe Ert Family name: Iwwerks
Awards:
- 1978: Winsor McCay Award - [no name]
- 1989: Disney Legend - [no name]
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