Ralph Wright

Ralph Wright (May 17, 1908 - March 20, 1988) was a Disney animator and story/storyboard writer who is best known for providing the gloomy, sullen voice of Eeyore from the popular Winnie-the-Pooh franchise. Wright came to the studio in the 1940s and became well known throughout the ensuing decades for his endearingly gloomy and sullen personality traits as well as his bass voice. He turned out to be a natural model for Eeyore when the studio began development on Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.

He, along with his fellow Disney contemporaries, was a pioneer in the use of "gags" within cartoons, often acted out in front of the "story board," a bulletin board pinned with sequential sketches of the cartoon's scenes. This technique still in use today in most major animation studios. He spent the last 30 years of his life in San Luis Obispo County in Los Osos. He loved his grandchildren dearly and spent many hours teaching them to see the minute details in life, which were extraordinarily fascinating and humorous to him. He died at his home in Los Osos, CA from a heart attack.

Disney Filmography

 * The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh - 1977 - story, voice: Eeyore, performer: "Hip Hip Pooh-ray!"
 * Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too! - 1974 - voice: Eeyore
 * Rogue's Rock - 1974 - The Wonderful World of Disney - writer
 * The City Fox - 1972 - The Wonderful World of Disney - contributing writer
 * Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 1971 - animation story
 * The Aristocats 1970 - writer/storyboard team
 * Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) (story) voice: Eeyore
 * The Jungle Book 1967 - writer/storyboard team
 * Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree 1966 - voice: Eeyore
 * Aquamania 1961 - story
 * Nikki, Wild Dog of the North - 1961 - writer/storyboard team
 * Sleeping Beauty - 1959 - additional story
 * Perri - 1957 - Director, writer, storyboard team
 * Lady and the Tramp - 1955 - writer/storyboard team
 * Don's Fountain of Youth 1953 - story
 * Peter Pan - 1953 - writer/storyboard team
 * Trick or Treat - 1952 - story
 * Plutopia - 1951 - story
 * Dude Duck - 1951 - story
 * Lambert the Sheepish Lion - 1951 - story
 * Crazy with the Heat - 1947 - story
 * Song of the South - 1946 - cartoon story
 * Donald's Crime - 1945 - story
 * The Eyes Have It - 1945 - story
 * The Three Caballeros - 1944
 * Bambi 1942 - story developer
 * Saludos Amigos - 1942 - writer/storyboard team
 * How to Ride a Horse 1941 - writer/storyboard team
 * The Art of Self Defense 1941 - animator