News & Press Releases
Walt Disney’s Executive Assistant Lucille Martin Dies at Age 90

DISNEY LEGEND LUCILLE MARTIN, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO WALT DISNEY
AND TWO DISNEY CEOs FOR 42 YEARS, DIES AT AGE 90
BURBANK, Calif., October 26, 2012 – Lucille Martin, who started at The Walt Disney Studios as a personal secretary to Walt Disney, and rose through the ranks to serve as vice president and special assistant to The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors at the time of her retirement in 2006, passed away at her home in Studio City, California, on October 24 due to complications from cancer. She was 90 years old. During her tenure with Disney, she also served as executive assistant to two Disney CEOs, Ron Miller and Michael Eisner. In 2007, The Walt Disney Company inducted her as a “Disney Legend” for her numerous contributions over four decades.
Commenting on Martin’s passing, Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “From the day Lucille Martin stepped into Walt Disney’s office as his personal assistant in 1965, she brought her warm smile and kind ways to the studio every day of her 42 years with Disney. Lucille’s compassion, dedication and love for Disney are what made her such a valued colleague, treasured friend and Disney Legend. I speak for everyone at Disney in extending our most heartfelt condolences to Lucille’s family-she will be greatly missed.”
Martin was a young single mother of two girls in 1964 when she joined the secretarial pool at The Walt Disney Studios. She soon found herself assigned to Walt Disney’s office where she became part of his inner circle during the last year of his life.
Martin recalled, “I thought they had the wrong person when they sent me up to work in Walt’s office. He made me feel comfortable right away.He saw himself as an ordinary guy. Still, I had a hard time not calling him ‘sir.’ I’d say, ‘Yes, sir,’ and he’d say, smiling, ‘Yes, Walt.’ After about a week he gave me a drawing of a girl carrying a sign that read, ‘Down with Sir!’ I kept it on my intercom the whole time I worked for him.
“Walt was generous,” she added. “When he found out that I’d never flown on a plane, he closed the office and included me on a flight to San Diego. He was sentimental, too. He went to the dailies every afternoon, and if there were touching scenes he was not ashamed to dab his eyes. ‘Gotta remember to bring the Kleenex,’ he’d say.”
Martin worked in Walt’s office over a two-year period. After his passing in 1966, she became an executive assistant to Ron Miller as he ascended to president of the Company and later CEO. In 1984, incoming CEO Michael Eisner asked her to stay on in that role to assist him.
In 1995, Martin was promoted to vice president and special assistant to The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors, where she served as a liaison between the Company and the Board. She held that post up until her retirement from the Company in January 2006.
Born and raised in Zeigler, Illinois, Martin attended Southern Illinois Normal University, and had originally intended to become a teacher. But when the young single mother of a 5- and 10-year-old moved to Southern California after World War II, and discovered that her Illinois credential was not valid, she entered the business world as a secretary.
Martin is survived by her daughter Janet Hoey-Klick, her son-in-law, Michael Klick, and her granddaughter, Caitlin Hoey-Klick. Another daughter, Sue, passed away in 1998. She was married to Don Martin from 1969 until his death in 2009.
Martin will be interred at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar, California. Plans for a family memorial will be announced shortly.
News & Press Releases
Disney Will Bring D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to Anaheim, California in August 2024

Expanded Disney Fan Experience Will Feature New and Exciting Events Across Multiple Locations, Including a D23 Takeover of the Happiest Place On Earth, Evening Entertainment at the Honda Center, D23 Day at Angel Stadium, and Much More
Fan Favorites Including Exhibits, Panels, Shows, and Shopping Will Dazzle Disney Enthusiasts at the Anaheim Convention Center
D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is a one-of-a-kind fan experience like never before with spectacular shows, new venues, and multiple days of entertainment that will bring together the best of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and more!
Highlightswill include:
- Sunday, August 4: D23 Day at Angel Stadium, where D23 fans are invited to attend the Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Mets game.
- Thursday, August 8: D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort.
- Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11: Shopping, exhibits, panels, and presentations will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center during the day, with the fun extending into the evening at the Honda Center, the bigger home to marquee shows.
Tickets for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will go on sale in Spring 2024, with ticketing options to be announced later for access to the Anaheim Convention Center and the Honda Center. Admission for D23 Day at Angel Stadium and the D23 kickoff celebration at Disneyland Resort will be available as separate ticketed events. Additional details for D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event will be announced in early 2024.
You can get updates by staying connected to D23 via social media (@DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X), D23.com, and our weekly D23 FanFare email (sign up for free as a D23 General Member at JoinD23.com).
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s nearly 100-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic year-round through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; the latest news and stories on D23.com; member-exclusive offers and discounts; the popular D23 Inside Disney podcast; and special experiences for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99/year), Gold Duo Membership ($129.99/year), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
News & Press Releases
Star Wars Spoof: Space Robots in Outer Space Ep X: Battle for the Halcyon: The Last Starcruiser

Sure, Star Wars is cool and all. But let’s not forget about that other multi-part sci-fi cinematic spectacular, “Space Robots in Outer Space.” In fact, Hank Lonely (Hollywood’s ultimate hyphenate — actor / producer / director / writer / guy who makes sure the Porto Potties are kept squeaky-clean) just announced that there’ll soon be a 10th installment of this … Well, not exactly beloved. How about we say “admired from afar” instead? … series coming to a theater near you. In fact, here’s the highly anticipated teaser trailer for that project. Which is supposed to be titled “Space Robots in Outer Space X — Battle for the Halycon: The Last Starcruiser.”
Okay. Now the real story … In honor of Star Wars Day (i.e., May 4th. As in “May the Fourth Be With You”), Len Testa and I are sharing something that we produced with the help of all the nice folks who joined us last month aboard the Halycon.
We turned the Galactic Starcruiser as well as Black Spire Outpost into the backdrop for an affectionate send-up of all things Stars Wars. We hope that you (more importantly, the legal team at Lucasfilm) take this faux trailer in the spirit with which it was intended. Special thanks to Aaron Adams for so skillfully stitching all of this footage together. Also thanks to the team at Storybook Destinations, Touring Plans and the talented cast & crew aboard the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” for making this “Disney Dish” fan event so memorable.
News & Press Releases
Disney’s New Trailer Reveals How Ralph & Vanellope Get to the Internet in “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2”


When “Wreck-It Ralph” opened on Nov. 2, 2012, it turned in the highest opening weekend ever for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film at the time of release. Now Disney is hoping Ralph will not only break the Internet but the 2018 Thanksgiving boxoffice records as well.

The film re-teams the original director, producer and co-writer behind “Wreck-It Ralph.” The screenplay is currently being written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Director Rich Moore, producer Clark Spencer, and co-writer Phil Johnston partnered with fellow director Byron Howard and co-writer/co-director Jared Bush to create the Academy Award®-winning blockbuster feature “Zootopia.”

ROYAL REUNION – In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz-along with her best friend Ralph-ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film (below), features several of the original princess voices, including Auli’i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018.
“RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2”
WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS
https://disney.com/ralphbreakstheinternet
https://www.youtube.com/user/disneyanimation
https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph/
https://twitter.com/wreckitralph
https://www.instagram.com/wreckitralph/
U.S. Release Date: Nov. 21, 2018
Voice cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk
Directors: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston
Producer: Clark Spencer
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