Donald Duck appeared for the first time on the big screen on June 9, 1934, in the cartoon “The Wise Little Hen.” He turned 83 today. To mark his birthday, this day is celebrated as the National Donald Duck Day across the U.S.
Donald, who's often represented wearing a sailor suit and a red bowtie, is the only TV cartoon character to represent a major American university sports team – the University of Oregon Ducks. Donald first appeared as a drawing in a May 1934 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine promoting the film "The Wise Little Hen." AN interesting fact about Donald is that he has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.
One of Donald’s famous sayings is “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.”
Here are some lesser-known facts about one of Disney’s most beloved characters:
- Donald Duck’s full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck. Disney first revealed Donald’s full name in the 1942 film “Donald Gets Drafted.” He is reportedly the only major Disney character with an official middle name. He has a twin sister named Della Duck (occasionally referred to as Dumbella Duck or Thelma Duck) . His mother is Hortense McDuck and his dad is Quackmore Duck. In the late Thirties, Donald was joined by his perennial girlfriend, Daisy Duck (called Donna before she became famous. She first appeared in "Don Donald," a 1937 short film.), and by his three mischievous nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie ( best recognized from the show “DuckTales.”).
- Donald is an American Pekin duck. His species was historically bred in China but became a popular commercial duck breed for egg and meat production in the U.S. after it was first brought to Long Island in 1873.
- Donald has an asteroid named after him. Asteroid 12410 was named Donald in 1995 and is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- .Donald won an Oscar for the 1943 animated short Der Fuehrer's Face, which was originally titled Donald Duck in NutziLand.
- Donald co-hosted the Oscars in 1958, appearing at the movie awards ceremony on film alongside the night's other hosts - Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Niven, Rosalind Russell, and James Stewart.
- In 2005, Donald was given his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Walt Disney created Donald when he heard Clarence Nash doing his "duck" voice while reciting Mary Had a Little Lamb. Disney wanted a character that was more negative than Mickey Mouse, so the bad-tempered Duck was born. Nash voiced the character from 1934 to 1983, training Tony Anselmo to take over.
- "One of the greatest satisfactions in our work here at the studio is the warm relationship that exists within our cartoon family. Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, and the whole gang have always been a lot of fun to work with. But like many large families, we have a problem child. You’re right, it’s Donald Duck,” Walt Disney once said of the character.
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Donald Duck first appeared on the silver screen on June 9, 1934, in the animated short film, The Wise Little Hen, dancing to the Sailor's Hornpipe.
- He has gone on to star in seven feature films--which is more than any of his Disney counterparts. He is six years younger than Mickey Mouse.
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