Imagineer and Disney Parks poster artist Jim Michaelson, responsible for posters for such iconic Disney attractions as Country Bear Jamboree, The Walt Disney World and Disneyland Railroads, and Pirates of the Caribbean, has passed away, according to multiple reports.
As we reported back in April, Michaelson had been fighting prostate cancer since August 2017. Disney and More reported that Michaelson passed away late last month.
Sadly, it was reported to me that the great Jim Michaelson recently lost his battle with cancer. One of DLP Main Street’s biggest contributors, a fine artist, friend,his extraordinary work lives on as a gift. Thanks for all you’ve given us! https://t.co/KFGIGp6cQy pic.twitter.com/UgCQswp6dN
— Eddie Sotto (@boss_angeles) June 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/waltsbarn/status/1137555554224693253
Jim Michaelson began working for WED Enterprises in 1971. Along with fellow Imagineers Rudy Lord and Ernie Prinzhorn, Michaelson helped to re-imagine the poster art displayed at the Disney Parks. While at Disney, designed and co-designed posters for such iconic Disney Parks attractions as Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, Space Mountain, the Disneyland Railroad, and the Walt Disney World Railroad. In addition to his poster art, Michaelson designed projects for Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Park in Paris. Most notably, he worked on the poster art in Discovery Arcade as part of Paris’ Main Street U.S.A. Much of Michaelson’s work can be seen in the book Poster Art of the Disney Parks by Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt.
On behalf of WDWNT, we send our deepest condolences to Jim’s wife, Jeannine, and all of their friends and family. We’d also like to thank Jim for all of the joy that his art brought us and other guests through the years.
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I love his maps and poster art. His illustrations will live on and be enjoyed by – and inspire – many, many people for a very long time.
I learned of his cancer back in April from WDWNT & I left a message then Jeannine his wife responded & left his e-mail address & phone number which I called and he called a few days later. We talked for almost an hour I was interested in Imagineering being a former castmember myself but he said it was very hard getting into Imagineering. When I learned of his passing yesterday I e-mailed her & told her that I that I had just found out & she e-mailed me back. He will be missed.