Disney Legend Bill Justice died February 10, 2011, a day after he turned 97 years old. He died of natural causes in a Santa Monica nursing home where he had spent the last few years of his life. The few people who visited him during that time told me that Bill’s mind remained remarkably clear and upbeat when he was asked about his earlier career at the Disney Studio.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to interview many of “Walt’s original cast,” as I call it, of Disney animators and Imagineers. Some I got to know better than others—and Bill Justice was one of those folks.
I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Bill at the various Mouse Club and NFFC events in the Anaheim area in Southern California over the years. He was always generous with his time and patient with those of us eager young fans who wanted to know everything about Disney.
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