Roger Allers (June 29, 1949 – January 17, 2026) was an American film director, screenwriter, animator, storyboard artist, and playwright. He was best known for co-directing Disney Animation's The Lion King (1994), the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time, and for writing the Broadway adaptation of the same name. He also directed Sony Pictures Animation's first feature-length animated film, Open Season (2006) and the animated adaptation of The Prophet. Description above from ...