Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1966-08-01
- Born Place: New York City, New York, USA
Deathday:
2016-02-06
Also Known As:
Dan Gerson, Daniel "Dan" Gerson
Daniel Gerson
Daniel Robert Gerson (1966 – 2016) was a highly impactful American screenwriter and voice actor, best known for his significant contributions to animated films from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Born in New York City, Gerson attended Cornell University and later earned an MFA from New York University. He began his career in television, working as a staff writer for the NBC sitcom "Something So Right" and also contributing to shows like "Duckman" and "Big Wolf on Campus."Gerson joined Pixar in 1999, where he quickly became an integral part of their creative team. He co-wrote the screenplays for some of Pixar's most beloved films, including "Monsters, Inc." (2001) and its prequel "Monsters University" (2013). His writing was praised for its wit, heart, and ability to craft compelling narratives for both children and adults. He also co-wrote the screenplay for Walt Disney Animation Studios' Academy Award-winning film "Big Hero 6" (2014). Beyond his primary writing credits, Gerson contributed additional story material to numerous other animated features, such as "Chicken Little," "Cars," "Meet the Robinsons," "Up," "Inside Out," and "Zootopia."In addition to his writing, Gerson also lent his voice to minor characters in several of the films he worked on. Most notably, he voiced the janitors Smitty and Needleman in "Monsters, Inc." (which reportedly started as guide vocals that the directors loved and kept in the final cut) and the Desk Sergeant in "Big Hero 6."Tragically, Daniel Gerson passed away on February 6, 2016, at the age of 49, due to heart failure and complications from brain cancer. At the time of his death, he was working on "Cars 3," which was later dedicated to his memory. Gerson's legacy lives on through the enduring popularity and critical acclaim of the films he helped to create, showcasing his talent for crafting memorable stories and characters in the world of animation.
