In a momentous celebration at The Honda Center in Anaheim, California, Disney honored 14 artists with the prestigious “Legends” status, recognizing their considerable contributions to the company’s legacy. This illustrious group includes luminaries such as Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, Miley Cyrus, director James Cameron, and iconic film composer John Williams among others. Presented as part of the D23 fan convention, the ceremony, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting Monday.
Harrison Ford, the first to accept the award, was visibly moved as he referred to himself as an “assistant storyteller,” acknowledging the significant contributions of his collaborators. Emotional as he thanked Disney CEO Bob Iger for his professional guidance and friendship, Ford is set to cement his enduring legacy even further by joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a role in the upcoming “Captain America: Brave New World.”
Miley Cyrus, best known for her breakout role in “Hannah Montana,” also delivered an emotional speech. After being introduced by country singer Lainey Wilson’s performance of “The Best of Both Worlds,” Cyrus shared her heartfelt thoughts on the honor. “Legends get scared, too. I’m scared right now, but the difference is we do it anyway,” Cyrus stated. The youngest recipient of the Legends honor, Cyrus has transitioned successfully from her sitcom days to a thriving music career, recently winning her first Grammy Award in February.
Angela Bassett, celebrated for her performances in “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” was reunited with director Ryan Coogler, who presented her with the honor. Bassett, also known for her role in ABC’s “9-1-1,” expressed deep gratitude to her fans, saying, “To the fans, you are the magic. There are not enough words to let you know how much I appreciate you, how much I love you.”
Jamie Lee Curtis received her honor from long-time friends Lindsay Lohan and Jodie Foster. Reflecting on the essence of being a legend, Curtis said, “Legends aren’t born, they’re created. They’re created and nurtured and taught and educated and then they make art and then we connect.” Curtis is set to revisit her beloved role in the forthcoming sequel “Freaky Friday,” alongside Lohan.
The evening continued with Ford returning to the stage to honor John Williams, the masterful composer behind the unforgettable scores of “Indiana Jones,” “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” and “Jaws.” The Pacific Symphony graced the ceremony with a special medley of Williams’ compositions, further underscoring his monumental impact on film music.
James Cameron, acclaimed director of “Titanic” and “Avatar,” was celebrated by stars Kate Winslet and Zoe Saldaña. Cameron shared his excitement, saying, “There’s just such an incredible display of creativity and imagination here tonight and I’m just happy to be in this crowd, to be part of this club and part of the Disney family tonight.”
ABC talk show mainstay Kelly Ripa, introduced by former co-host Seacrest, honored her long tenure with Disney. “To be employed by the same company for 34 years is my great good fortune,” Ripa remarked, reflecting on her career spanning over three decades with the network.
Danny DeVito took the stage to present the award to James L. Brooks, the creative force behind “The Simpsons” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” lauding him as a “genius.”
In addition to these celebrity inductees, Disney also recognized six behind-the-scenes creatives, including Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and animator Mark Henn, who has brought several Disney princesses to life. Comics artist Steve Ditko, puppeteer Frank Oz, longtime Disney manager Martha Blanding, and former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde were also honored for their invaluable contributions.
Since its inception in 1987, the Disney Legends program has celebrated over 300 individuals, adding this year’s honorees to an esteemed list that includes legends like Elton John, Steve Jobs, Betty White, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Downey Jr., and Whoopi Goldberg.
