The soap opera community has been calling All My Children's Susan Lucci (ex-Erica Kane) legendary for years -- decades, really -- and now Disney is officially jumping on the bandwagon. The company will be formally announcing the list of this year's Disney Legends during the D23 Expo next month, but we already know Lucci made the cut alongside some very recognizable names, including Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes people who have made integral contributions to The Walt Disney Company, and Lucci's contribution has been quite extraordinary. She was the Queen of Soaps during her 41-year run on AMC and now is a star of Lifetime's Devious Maids, which is an ABC Studios production (and thus owned by Disney).
Other stars to receive the honor this year include Lucas, composer Danny Elfman, animator Andreas Deja, artist Eyvind Earle, former ESPN executive George Bodenheimer, former Disneyland ambassador Julie Reihn Casaletto, and artist Carson Van Osten.
"The Disney Legend Award is our highest honor, and we are incredibly proud to recognize these eight talented individuals who have contributed so much to the world of entertainment and the Disney legacy," said Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company. "Their vision and dedication to their work have brought joy to audiences around the globe and earned them a place in Disney history."
Each of the incoming legends will receive a bronze Disney Legends sculpture and will participate in a special handprint ceremony on Friday, August 14. Those handprints will then be displayed at the Disney Legends Plaza at the company's headquarters in Burbank, California.
Former Disney legends include Julie Andrews, Regis Philbin, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, and Betty White (ex-Ann Douglas, The Bold and the Beautiful).
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