Marty Sklar, the Disney Imagineer who worked closely with Walt Disney to implement his theme parks vision, has died.
- Disney Imagineer Marty Sklar died Thursday
- Called Walt Disney's right-hand man
- Helped guide theme park creation over the decades
- RELATED: Over the year's reporter Scott Fais has had numerous conversations with Marty Sklar. Here are some of those stories:
Disney says Sklar passed away Thursday at his Hollywood Hills home at age 83.
Sklar started with Disney in 1955 to create The Disneyland News for the Anaheim theme park, while he was still a student at UCLA. He joined Disney full-time in 1956.
Thomas Smith, Disney Parks editorial content editor, called Sklar Walt Disney's right-hand man. He scripted speeches and marketing materials, crafting the message for Walt's vision for Walt Disney World and Epcot.
He also became the creative leader for Disney Imagineering, helping to develop theme parks and attractions for the next three decades.
He retired as executive vice president and imagineering ambassador in 2009.
Sklar was one of the few people in the world to attend the grand opening of every Disney theme park -- from Disneyland in Anaheim in 1955 to Disneyland in Shanghai last year.
In lieu of flowers, the Sklar family is asking donations be made in Sklar's name to Ryman Program for Young Artists, a nonprofit he founded with his wife, Leahm to teach and mentor traditional drawing and painting among young artists.