Ron Miller, RIP

Ron Miller, former CEO of Walt Disney Productions (when that was the company name) died on Saturday. He was eight-five.

... Mr. Miller’s first job [at Disney] was with the crew of the film “Old Yeller” (1957). He went on to spend more than 20 years as a producer or executive producer of Disney movies like “That Darn Cat!” (1965), “Escape to Witch Mountain” (1975), “The Shaggy D.A.” (1976) and “Freaky Friday” (1977). ...

Mr. Miller became president and chief operating officer of Walt Disney Productions (now the Walt Disney Company) in 1980, [and] his overriding mission was to reinvigorate its film division, where he had spent most of his career ...

Ron Miller remained in the top job for four-plus years, until the Disney board forced him to resign and replaced him with Michael Eisner. He launched the Disney Channel, created a new film division, began talks for a second international amusement park in Paris. But Mr. Miller also endured takeover threat and a lacklustre movie slate, and these things ultimately brought him down.

He might not have been the most successful studio head of all time, but many Disney animation artists were fond of him. Ron was involved in story development of animated features, and he wasn't stupid. In fact, Ron knew how to unleash a droll wit. One lunchtime when Mickey Rooney was in the commissary, and intercepted Ron when he came through the door.

Mr. Miller asked Rooney how he was. Mr. Rooney, a former movie star with multiple marriages on his resume, sang out "I'm getting a divorce!"

Ron smiled at him and deadpanned, "Oh, it was a long one this time," and moved on his way.

After leaving Disney, Ron and wife Diane Disney Miller moved to the Napa Valley and built both the successful winery Silverado Vineyards, but a a new life in northern California. Mrs. Miller died in Nover, 2013; They leave seven children, thirteen grand-children, and four great grand-children.