The Walt Disney Company inducted 11 new Disney Legends on Sunday afternoon at the Honda Center in Anaheim, closing out the largest D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event to date with a ceremony that honored Bob Iger, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, Kim Irvine, Chris Berman, and Alan Tudyk. Ryan Seacrest returned as host, and Disney+ subscribers can stream the full ceremony.
Iger Got The All Star Send Off
Chief executive Josh D’Amaro opened the ceremony and introduced the tribute to his predecessor, saying that what he has always admired most about Iger is not what he accomplished but who he is. Al Michaels, Diane Sawyer, Ellen Pompeo, Robert Downey Jr. and Harrison Ford then took the stage to share stories, with Downey framing Iger’s defining quality as courage. The honor capped a day that began with Iger receiving a window on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland before park opening.
The Performances Stole The Afternoon
Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrated his induction by performing his own version of “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. KATSEYE honored Susan Egan, Broadway’s original Belle and the voice of Megara, with “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” from Hercules, days after Egan appeared at the Disney Princess concert at Disney California Adventure. Eric Goldberg, the animator behind the Genie in Aladdin, was welcomed by the Disneyland Band and walked out surrounded by characters he helped bring to life. Samantha Barks closed the ceremony with “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” before the full class posed for a group photo alongside Disney characters.
Birthdays, First Words And A Devil Wears Prada Story
Dwayne Johnson, presented by Emily Blunt, led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to his daughter Simone and gave a shout out to his younger daughters watching at home. Anne Hathaway, introduced by The Devil Wears Prada director David Frankel with a video message from Anna Wintour, called herself “one of the most insanely lucky people in the world.” The Jonas Brothers were honored by fellow Disney Channel alum Vanessa Hudgens, with Joe revealing his first word was “Gaston” and Nick recalling his Broadway run as Chip in Beauty and the Beast before thanking fans for “a life beyond anything we could have imagined.”
The class also recognized two figures fans know by their work rather than their faces: Imagineer Kim Irvine, the longtime creative force at Disneyland, and Chris Berman, the foundational voice of ESPN for more than four decades. Jerry Bruckheimer, who steered the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, and prolific voice actor Alan Tudyk rounded out the group. The full honoree list and ceremony details are on The Walt Disney Company’s newsroom.
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