If you, like me, love many of the things that Walt Disney Productions created before Michael Eisner came on board in 1984, like The Disney Channel, TRON and the original EPCOT Center, you have a much-unsung hero to thank for that: Ron Miller.
When Miller came on board, the whisper campaign about him was nothing less than vicious, saying that he had no right to head up the company his father-in-law created. But he never said a thing about his tenure at Disney (1978-1984) until he neared the end of his life, and even then had nothing bad to say, even about those who had wronged him.
Ronald William Miller was 21 years old when a friend set him up on a blind date with Diane Disney, then 20 years old. He was then a student and football player at USC. He and Diane married in 1954 and he served in the US Army before joining the Los Angeles Rams. (I kind of hope he was happy to see them move back home.)
His father-in-law attended one of his games, during which he was knocked out cold:
“My father-in-law saw me play in two football games when I was with the L.A. Rams. In one of them, I caught a pass and Dick ‘Night Train’ Lane let me have it from the rear. His forearm came across my nose and knocked me unconscious. I woke up in about the third quarter. At the end of the season, Walt came up to me and said, ‘You know, I don’t want to be the father to your children. You’re going to die out there. How about coming to work with me?’ I did and it was a wise decision on my part. I’m really very proud of having been a professional athlete. I think it teaches you to be competitive, to accept challenges and to see things through. I realize the image some people have of jocks, but I think that certainly has changed over the years.”
~Ron Miller to entertainment reporter Dale Pollock, August 1984
Starting as a liaison between WED Enterprises and Disneyland, he moved up to second assistant on Old Yeller after joining the Screen Directors’ Guild. He produced many different projects, including many of Walt’s introduction segments on the Disneyland TV show.
In films, his production work varied from comedies like That Darn Cat! to TRON, Pete’s Dragon and Escape to Witch Mountain. He won an Emmy for his work on The Wonderful World of Disney. He became President of Walt Disney Productions in 1978 and CEO in 1983, championing Touchstone Films, the Disney Channel, computer and stop-motion animation with people like Tim Burton (perhaps you’ve heard of “Vincent” and “Frankenweenie”?) and even starting out Who Framed Roger Rabbit, one of many of his projects for whom others took credit after he was ousted by Roy E. Disney and his “brain trust” of lawyer Stanley Gold, the billionaire Bass Brothers, replaced by the triumvirate of Hollywood execs Michael Eisner, Frank Wells and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
From The Walt Disney Family Museum:
“Ron and Diane officially established Silverado Vineyards in 1981, four years after the first acreage was purchased near the small town of Yountville, California. Throughout the 30-plus years they have operated the vineyard, the couple has championed environmental efforts in winemaking, helping restore local creek beds and riverbanks and adopting solar power and hybrid engine technology.”
He and Diane relocated to Napa Valley and their beloved Silverado Vineyards:
“Partners for almost 60 years, she and Ron always set aside time to be in nature, skiing in Colorado and swimming in the ocean in Hawaii throughout their lives. Autumns spent at their ranch in Colorado were something she always looked forward to. When home in Napa, they spent most weekends tending their rose, dogwood, and rhododendron gardens. They instilled the same respect for nature and family in their children and grandchildren.”
He supported Diane in her championship of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and, finally, the Walt Disney Family Museum; she wanted to show that Walt Disney was not just the name on a huge corporation, but a beloved family man and creative genius. When Diane died in 2013, he took over the reins of the Museum.
He is survived by children Christopher D Miller, Joanna Miller, Tamara Miller, Jennifer Miller-Goff, Walter Elias Miller, Ronald Miller and Patrick Miller and grandchildren Annabelle Rey, Nick Runeare, Ryan Scheer, Sam Goff, Danielle Durham, Sebastian Runeare, Charlotte Goff, Lilly Goff, Haley Scheer, Reilly Miller, Maddy Goff, William Miller and Elias Miller, and great grandchildren Stella Durham, Finley Scheer, and Evelyn and Mason Goff.
Here’s hoping that his many contributions to Disney and to humankind will never be forgotten.
Thanks to Jim Korkis for his unique insights and quotes, and to Bill Cotter and Didier Ghez for the facts and figures.
Donations may be made to the memorial fund that The Walt Disney Family Museum has established in honor of Ron and Diane Disney Miller. Donations will support the museum’s ongoing education efforts, about which Ron was passionate. Donations and cards can also be sent to the family through The Walt Disney Family Museum, ATTN: Director’s Office; 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94129.
Services will be private.
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