Disney Imagineer Dan Goozee Has Passed Away at 80

A legendary figure in the history of Disney Imagineering has sadly passed away.

Dan Goozee, who spent decades working in Hollywood as a poster artist, concept artist, and consultant with Walt Disney Imagineering, passed away on April 7th at the age of 80 at West Hills Hospital & Medical Center. According to Goozee’s son Rob, the acclaimed artist succumbed to an “age-related condition” he’d been battling for several years.

Goozee’s work was familiar to Disney theme park fans and film aficionados alike. Over the course of his Hollywood career, Goozee illustrated numerous well-known film posters including those for Clash of the Titans, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, The Black Stallion Returns, Streets of Fire, Crocodile Dundee, and the James Bond films, Moonraker, Octopussy and A View to a Kill.

In addition, Goozee worked in the art departments of various films including Doctor Dolittle, Tora! Tora! Tora!, The Poseidon Adventure, The Towering Inferno, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, Logan’s Run, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Goozee began working with Walt Disney Imagineering in the late 1970s, and brought his trademark style to concept art for the Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea theme parks, as well as individual attractions including Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, EPCOT’s Imagination and Seas pavilions, Phantom Manor, the Tokyo version of Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and the Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life.

Over the course of his career, Goozee was honored by the Oil Painters of America, Watercolor West, and the California National Watercolor Society, and his work can currently be seen in several institutions, including the Autry Museum of the American West.

I was just informed that Dan Goozee, a VERY talented artist who visualized many of our favorite attractions, and (created EDL Plaza Inn murals) passed away. We all fought to have Dan illustrate our projects! He added that "magic" and will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/p2ejQJbFoQ

— Eddie Sotto (@boss_angeles) April 9, 2024

Longtime Disney Imagineer Eddie Sotto paid tribute to Goozee on X (formerly Twitter), writing “I was just informed that Dan Goozee, a VERY talented artist who visualized many of our favorite attractions, and (created EDL Plaza Inn murals) passed away. We all fought to have Dan illustrate our projects! He added that “magic” and will be greatly missed.”

While industry tributes and awards are worthy of recognition, we’ll leave you with the heartfelt words of Goozee’s son Rob: “You will always be with us even as your work lives on from all things Disney, movies, fine art and more. I’m sure you’re enjoying the views from up there. Look forward to one day seeing them with you again.”

We at AllEars send heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Dan Goozee.