MOVIE NEWS – Ruthie Tompson began her career at Disney, working in the “ink and paint department” of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937.

 

Ruthie Tompson, Disney’s legendary longtime animation supervisor, has died at the age of 111. Disney Executive Chairman Robert Iger shared the news via Twitter. Loved ones, friends and fans shared their admiration for Ruthie and her masterful work.

“RIP Ruthie Thompson… a true animation legend. Her contributions to Disney – from Snow White to The Saviors – are classics beloved to this day. While we will miss her smile and wonderful sense of humour, her exceptional work and pioneering spirit will forever inspire us all.”

RIP Ruthie Thompson…a true animation legend. Her contributions to Disney—from Snow White to The Rescuers—remain beloved classics to this day. While we will miss her smile & wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work & pioneering spirit will forever inspire us. pic.twitter.com/jbxeuRsjIW

— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) October 11, 2021

On July 22, 1910, Ruthie was born in Portland, Maine and grew up in Boston, MA, until her family moved to California in 1918. They first arrived in Oakland on November 11, Armistice Day, which marked the end of WWI. He later recalled that he and others wore masks over their faces during the end-of-war celebrations to protect themselves from the flu, which was epidemic at the time.

Ruthie and her family lived in Hollywood in the 1920s, not far from the then-fledgling Disney Bros. studios on Kingswell Avenue.

“I used to walk by the Disney Bros. storefront all the time, she once recalled. “I was curious and snooping around, and eventually, they invited me in to see it. I visited quite often after that. I remember sitting on the bench watching Roy film the animation reels.”

“One time Roy asked us, the neighbourhood kids, to play catch in the street while he photographed us with the film camera”, he continued. “I guess it was because of the Alice comedies; he paid each of us a quarter, which I was glad of because it gave me a chance to buy liquorice.”

After graduating from Hollywood High School at 18, he got a job at Dubrock’s Riding Academy, where Walt and Roy Disney regularly played polo. Soon Walt himself offered her a job as a painter in the ink and paint department, where she helped put the finishing touches on the studio’s first feature film, the animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was released in 1937. He enjoyed an unparalleled career, working on almost every Disney animated film up to The Saviors before retiring in 1975.

Ruthie was asked at her 110th birthday party what the secret to her longevity was, she replied “It’s because I’m a vampire!”; “How can I tell you my secret, because then it wouldn’t be a secret!”; “I’m stupid to live this long!”. Then he got serious. “I don’t know why I’m still here, but I do know that I don’t want to be respected because I’m old, but because I want to be who I am.”

His films include some that have delighted generations for nearly a century.

The Lonely Ghosts (1937) (ink and paint – not authenticated) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (ink and paint – not authenticated) (1937) Pinocchio (1940) Fantasia (1940) Dumbo (1941) Donald in Mathsland (scene designer – not authenticated) (1959) Sleeping Beauty (frame and scene designer – not certified). (1959) Mary Poppins (scene director – not accredited) (1964) The Aristocats (scene director – not accredited) (1970) Robin Hood (scene director – not accredited) (1973) Winnie the Pooh and the Tiger (short film; 1974) The Rescuers (1977)

Wisdom for a well-led life? Ruthie replied, “Have fun! Próbálj meg minél többet tenni magadért.

Source: Variety