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Walt Disney was born on December 5th, 1901 in Hermosa, Chicago, IL. With his father Elias Disney and his mother Flora Call Disney. (https://d23.com/this-day/walt-disney-is-born-in-chicago-illinois/)
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Walt Disney had 4 siblings and they were Herbert Disney, Raymond Disney, Ruth Disney, and Roy Disney.
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Disney attended McKinley High School in Chicago, where he took drawing and photography classes. At night, he took courses at the Chicago Art Institute. When Disney was 16, he dropped out of school. (https://chuckmanchicagonostalgia.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/mckinley-high-school-1908-2/)
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In 1922, he opened a film studio called Laugh-O-Gram but it struggled financially and shut down in 1923. (http://prettycleverfilms.com/free-online-movies/walt-disneys-laugh-o-gram-series/)
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That same year, he moved to Hollywood and formed Disney Brothers Studio with his older sibling Roy. (https://www.disneyavenue.com/2016/06/a-heartfelt-tribute-to-roy-o-disney.html)
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His spouse Lillian Disney and himself got married in 1925 in Lewiston, ID (https://successstory.com/people/photos/family/walter-elias-disney)
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He developed a new character originally dubbed Mortimer Mouse before it was decided Mickey would be a better moniker. Mickey Mouse made his official debut in a 1928 short film titled “Steamboat Willie.” (https://www.pinterest.com/explore/original-mickey-mouse/)
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Soon after Mickey was created, there were Mickey Mouse Clubs for children as well as merchandise and a comic strip
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Disney won his first competitive Academy Award and received his first Honorary Academy Award at the 5th Academy Awards (1932). He received the Honorary Academy Award for the creation of Mickey Mouse and won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Cartoon) for the film Flowers and Trees.(https://ohmy.disney.com/insider/2014/02/25/10-facts-about-disney-and-the-oscars/)
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They had their first child on December 18, 1933, in Los Angeles, CA. Her name was Diane Disney Miller (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/212513676141351276/)
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Then their second child was born on December 31, 1936, in Los Angeles, CA. Her name was Sharon Mae Disney (http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Sharon_Mae_Disney)
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During the war, Disney employees created educational films for various federal agencies, including a 1942 animated short, “The New Spirit.” (https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/11238475-garrido-sergio-original-recreation-art-poster-donald-duck-the-new-spirit-animated-short-film-1942-2017)
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Disneyland’s debut was showcased in a live TV broadcast (in 1955) co-hosted by Ronald Reagan and seen by 70 million Americans. Disneyland was an immediate success, and after just one month the park had more than half a million visitors. (https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/07/getting-ready-for-disneyland-park-to-debut-a-look-back-at-july-17-1955/)
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In November 1966, doctors discovered that Disney, a longtime smoker, had lung cancer.
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He died at a Burbank hospital the following month, on December 15, at age 65.
