Origins & Early Life

Ub Iwerks ( ub EYE-wurks; born Ubbe Ert Iwwerks, March 24, 1901 – July 7, 1971) was an American animator, cartoonist, film director, film producer, character designer, inventor, and special effects technician. He was widely known for his early work with Walt Disney Productions, especially for having worked on the creation of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, among other characters. Iwerks met Walt Disney in 1919 while working at an art studio in Kansas City, Missouri. After briefly working as illustrators for a local newspaper company, they ventured into animation together.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Iwerks joined Disney as chief animator on the Laugh-O-Gram shorts series beginning in 1922, but a studio bankruptcy would cause Disney to relocate to Los Angeles in 1923. At Winkler Pictures, Iwerks continued to work with Disney on the Alice Comedies as well as the creation of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. One of Iwerks's most long-lasting contributions to animation was a refined version of a sketch drawn by Disney that would later go on to become Mickey Mouse. Iwerks was responsible for much of the animation for the early Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons, including Steamboat Willie, The Skeleton Dance...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alberto Giacometti — Contemporary (Born in 1901) (1901): Swiss master of existential sculpture, known for elongated, fragile human figures.
• Alexandre Alexeieff — Contemporary (Born in 1901) (1901): Russian-born artist, filmmaker, and illustrator known for inventing the pinscreen technique.
• Alfred Tarski — Contemporary (Born in 1901) (1901): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• Adriano Giannini — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Italian actor known for dubbing and roles in film and television.
• Alison Krauss — Contemporary (Born in 1971) (1971): Esteemed American bluegrass singer and musician known for her vibrant career.
• Bennett Cerf — Contemporary (Died in 1971) (1971): American publisher, author, and co-founder of Random House.
• Alan Sugar — Shared historical date (03-24 · Born) (1947): Pioneering British entrepreneur, founder of Amstrad, and TV personality.
• An Wang — Shared historical date (03-24 · Died) (1990): Pioneering Chinese-American computer engineer and cofounder of Wang Laboratories.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Shared historical date (07-07 · Died) (2014): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Arthur Conan Doyle — Shared historical date (07-07 · Died) (1930): Pioneering author of Sherlock Holmes and speculative fiction master.
• 1901 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1901
• March 24 (03-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 24
• 1971 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1971
• July 7 (07-07) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 7