1. Early Life and Education
Diane Marie Disney was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 18, 1933. She was the first and only biological child of the renowned animator and entrepreneur Walt Disney and his wife, Lillian Bounds Disney. Growing up, she attended Los Feliz Grammar School before continuing her education at Immaculate Heart High School (Los Angeles) for both junior high and high school. Following her secondary education, Disney pursued higher studies at the University of Southern California, where she focused on English.
2. Marriage and Family
At the age of 20, Diane Disney was introduced to Ron W. Miller, a 21-year-old student at the University of Southern California and a member of the USC Trojans football team. Their introduction occurred on a blind date following a University of California-USC game. The couple married in a small Episcopal church ceremony in Santa Barbara on May 9, 1954.
Together, Diane and Ron Miller had seven children: Christopher (born 1954), Joanna (born 1956), Tamara (born 1958), Jennifer (later Miller-Goff, born 1960), Walter (born 1962), Ronald (born 1964), and Patrick (born 1966). Ron Miller initially served in the Army and played professional football. Later, Walt Disney persuaded him to join the Walt Disney Studios, where he ascended through various roles from film directing and production to eventually becoming the president and CEO of what is now The Walt Disney Company. Diane Miller often recalled that she and Ron lived a typical family life, emphasizing that both parents were very protective, caring, and loving towards their children.
3. Career and Philanthropy
Diane Disney Miller's career and philanthropic endeavors spanned various fields, including writing, arts advocacy, entrepreneurship, and the preservation of her father's legacy. She was a dedicated patron of the arts, a lifelong enthusiast of classical music, and a generous philanthropist throughout her life.
3.1. Writing and Publications
Miller contributed significantly as an author, sharing insights into her father's life. In 1956, she published a series of eight pieces for the Saturday Evening Post titled "My Dad, Walt Disney," which she co-wrote with Pete Martin. The following year, in 1957, she authored the book The Story of Walt Disney. After her husband, Ron Miller, was removed from his executive position at Walt Disney Productions in 1984, Diane began to limit her involvement with the company.
3.2. Philanthropy and Arts Advocacy
Diane Disney Miller was instrumental in the realization of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The project began with a 50.00 M USD gift from her mother, Lillian Disney, in 1988. However, the project faced significant hurdles, including cost disputes, poor management, and disagreements over the design, with Los Angeles County officials even attempting to cancel it. Despite these challenges, Miller became a strong advocate for the project and its architect, Frank Gehry. She persuaded Gehry to continue with the design, and in 1997, when the project was nearly abandoned, she arranged for the Walt Disney Family Foundation to contribute approximately 25.00 M USD to ensure Gehry remained in control. The Walt Disney Concert Hall finally opened in 2003, at a total cost of 247.00 M USD. Although her mother, Lillian, passed away in 1997 and never saw a concert in the hall, Diane continued to support the concert hall throughout her life.
3.3. Silverado Vineyards
Miller also ventured into entrepreneurship with her husband, establishing the renowned Silverado Vineyards winery. The inspiration for this venture came during a trip to Napa Valley with her mother, Lillian, where they visited several wineries. This trip sparked Miller's interest in starting a vineyard, possibly with an accompanying winery.
In 1976, the family purchased a large property along the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. They began planting Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes and produced their first wine in 1981. After Ron Miller left the Disney company and the entertainment industry in 1984, he and Diane dedicated themselves to developing Silverado Vineyards, which also became their home. They expanded the winery's operations to exclusively use estate-grown grapes. Diane played a key role in fostering a welcoming, family-like atmosphere at the winery, rather than simply running it as a business.
3.4. The Walt Disney Family Museum
After dedicating her earlier life to raising her seven children, Miller undertook an active advocacy role to accurately document the life and accomplishments of her father, Walt Disney. She was concerned that his legacy had been marred by poorly researched biographies and inaccurate rumors, and that his name had become more of a corporate identity than a reference to the man himself.
To address these concerns, the Walt Disney Family Foundation released The Man Behind the Myth in 2001, a documentary film about Walt Disney's life featuring interviews with his colleagues, peers, and family. In 2009, Miller co-founded The Walt Disney Family Museum in Presidio, San Francisco, with her son, Walter Elias Disney Miller, who is a movie producer. At the time of her death, Diane Miller served as the president of the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Family Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the museum. The museum's mission is to promote and inspire creativity and innovation, and to celebrate and study the life of Walt Disney.
3.5. Diane Disney Miller Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2015, the inaugural Diane Disney Miller Lifetime Achievement Award was established to honor her as the museum's founder. The award recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding impact in the fields of arts, education, community involvement, or technological advancements.
Honorees of the award include:
- 2015 - Richard M. Sherman
- 2016 - Marty Sklar
- 2017 - John Lasseter
4. Preservation of Walt Disney's Legacy
Diane Disney Miller was deeply committed to preserving and accurately representing her father, Walt Disney's, personal life and achievements. She felt a strong responsibility to counter misinformation and protect his authentic image, which she believed was often overshadowed by corporate identity and inaccurate portrayals. Her efforts were driven by a desire to ensure that future generations understood the true man behind the myth. This dedication culminated in the establishment of The Walt Disney Family Museum, which serves as a testament to her commitment to documenting his life with integrity and detail, showcasing his creative process, personal struggles, and monumental impact on the world.
5. Death and Legacy
Diane Disney Miller passed away on November 19, 2013, at the age of 79, less than a month before her 80th birthday. Her death was attributed to medical complications that developed after a fall she sustained in September of the same year in Napa, California. She was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, where her father's ashes are also interred. She was survived by her seven children, thirteen grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.
Her lasting impact was recognized posthumously through various dedications. The film Saving Mr. Banks, which premiered shortly after her death, was dedicated to her memory. Additionally, the animated film Frozen was released just eight days after her passing. Ron and Diane Disney Miller also received a special thank you in the credits of the 2015 Pixar film Inside Out.