Disney Legends for 2022 to be honored at D23 Expo

Disney legends Josh Gad, the late Chadwick Boseman, and Idina Menzel will be among a those honored at a showpiece opening of the big fan convention D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, from September 9 to 11, 2022.

Disney legends
Photos courtesy of Disney

The eagerly-anticipated annual Disney expo is already a sellout at the Anaheim Convention Center, and ticketed guests can now look forward to a spectacular opening ceremony, which will feature the iconic Disney Legends Awards presentation.

Another high-profile feature of the event will be an early look at Disney 100 Years of Wonder, an upcoming special celebration of the first century of the company and all its creations, scheduled for 2023.

Bob Chapek, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, explained: “For nearly a century, Disney has been entertaining and inspiring people around the world. I can’t wait to give fans a first look at what we have in store for our hundredth anniversary, and how we’re using this occasion to celebrate all the fans and families who have welcomed Disney into their lives.”

The details were all unveiled in a big D23 “reveal” today (August 19, 2022), along with this year’s honorees for the Disney Legends program.

In all, 14 new Legends will be honored in a ceremony hosted by Emmy Award-winning talk show host Tamron Hall. The Disney Legends Award is bestowed on individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the Disney legacy.

Disney Legend new inductees are:

Multi-award-winning actor Anthony Anderson, best known for his role as Dre Johnson in the TV comedy “black-ish.”

disney legend anthony anderson

Actor, author, and producer Kristen Bell, who lent her voice to hit films “Frozen” and “Frozen 2.”

disney legend kristin bell

Actor, writer, and director Chadwick Bozeman, best known for his role in “Black Panther” but also for his prominent activism before his untimely death in 2020.

disney legend chadwick bosman
Photo by Kwaku Alston

Walt Disney Imagineer Rob’t Coltrin, who retired in 2019 and was involved in creating attractions like Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Walt Disney World and Radiator Springs Racers in Disneyland.

disney legend rob's coltrin

Actor Patrick Dempsey, who appeared on the “Magical World of Disney” TV show and played Robert Philip in Disney movie “Enchanted.”

patrick dempsey

Robert Price “Bob” Foster, who had various careers with Disney starting in 1956, and was instrumental in finding land for the top-secret Florida Project that would become Walt Disney World.

robert foster

Actor Josh Gad, who helped create the character Olaf in the 2013 movie “Frozen,” and in 2019’s “Frozen 2,” as well as many other Disney productions.

disney legend josh gad

Jonathan Groff, actor and Braodway star, who was the voice of Kristoff in “Frozen” and “Frozen 2,” as well as appearing in other Disney productions.

jonathan groff
Photo by Chad Meyer

Animator, assistant director, production manager, and author Don Hahn, who worked on Disney movies such as “Pete’s Dragon,” “The Fox and the Hound,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King,” and more.

disney legend don hahn

Doris Hardoon, a Disney Imagineer who was instrumental in working on the Epcot Center, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Animal Kingdom theme parks, as well as Disney Cruise Line.

doris hardoon

Singer, songwriter, and actor Idina Menzel, who made Queen Elsa’s signature song “Let It Go” from the movie “Frozen” a smash hit. She also worked in other Disney productions.

disney legend idina menzel

Chris Montan, the Walt Disney Company’s vice-president of music for motion pictures and television, who oversaw film soundtracks such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “The Lion King” before being named President of Walt Disney Music in 1999.

chris montan

Actor Ellen Pompeo, best known for her role as Dr. Meredith Grey in TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.”

ellen pompeo
Photo courtesy of ABC/Nino Munoz

Tracee Ellis Ross, actor, producer, and director, who starred in ABC series “black-ish,” and Disney+ productions “grown-ish,” and “mixed-ish.”

tracee ellen ross

In addition, the opening ceremony will be streamed as part of D23 Expo LIVE, with musical performances, special guests, and surprises for the audience, including a unique staging of hits from Disney On Broadway’s productions of “Aladdin” and “The Lion King,” and the North American Tour of “Frozen.”

Marvel Studios has already announced its lineup of panels, events, and guests for D23, which include a full Marvel Pavilion on the main show floor as well as exclusive giveaways and a celebration of 60 years of Spider-Man.

For those without a ticket, the hugely popular Disney & Marvel Showcase will also be streamed live on September 9, 2022.

For more information, visit D23.com.


Disney Legends Robert Downey Jr., Christina Aguilera and more cement handprints at D23 Expo 2019
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