Oscar-winning animator Glen Keane was airlifted off an Arizona mountain Wednesday after becoming stranded while hiking with his grandchildren in temperatures reaching 109 degrees Fahrenheit. The 72-year-old realized the trail on Mummy Mountain had become too difficult to navigate and called for assistance.
The Phoenix Fire Department dispatched a rescue helicopter to retrieve Keane from the mountaintop. He was flown to a nearby landing zone and declined transportation to a hospital. Keane, who now resides in France, stated that the Valley holds a special place in his heart, as he grew up exploring the local hills and mountains. He is a 1972 graduate of Phoenix’s Brophy College Preparatory.
Keane is renowned for his work on several beloved Disney animated films, including "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and "Tarzan." He was recognized as a Disney Legend by the Walt Disney Archives. In 2018, Keane and the late Kobe Bryant received an Academy Award for their animated short film "Dear Basketball," which was adapted from Bryant's retirement poem.
Keane expressed gratitude for the swift rescue by the Phoenix firefighters, and the department confirmed that its crews returned safely from the mountain.