NEWS: Joe Hale, Disney Animator and Producer, Has Passed Away

Joe Hale, a Disney animator, artist, and producer, has passed away at 99 years old. Hale died on January 29th, 2025.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hale died of natural causes at his home in Atascadero, California.

Hale was born on June 4th, 1925, in Newland Village, Indiana. After graduating from the Michigan Academy of Arts and Lukits Academy of Fine Arts in 1951, Hale was hired as an inbetweener for Walt Disney Productions. He worked for Disney until 1986.

Throughout his career, Hale worked on several classic Disney films, ultimately becoming a producer on The Black Cauldron in 1980. When Hale started as an inbetweener for Disney, he worked on movies like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Fox and the Hound, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and Pete’s Dragon.

Hale was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects on The Black Hole film.

Before working for Disney, Hale served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946.

In 2008, Hale received an honorary Disney Legend Award from the National Fantasy Fan Club, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

After leaving Walt Disney Productions, Hale did not work in Hollywood, but, per his wife, he spent his time as a sculptor. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Hale, his son, Steven, and his grandchildren, Camille and Travis.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.