Ron Miller

Ron Miller married into a Hollywood executive suite, and spent much of his career fighting the perception that the connection, rather than talent, kept him in his job. He didn't start out in entertainment. A nimble, talented athlete, Miller attracted notice at the University of Southern California as a football player, and was later drafted by the nearby Los Angeles Rams. During his time at United StatesC., he went on a blind date with Diane Disney, daughter of famed producer/animator/studio kingpin Walt. The two got married, and Miller abandoned his football career to work for his father-in-law. He did a variety of production-related jobs for Disney, eventually earning his first onscreen credit on the swashbuckler TV series set in colonial California, "Zorro," in 1959. Within a decade, the diligent Miller had become a producer, generally working in the film division. Movies bearing his name as a producer include "Son of Flubber," the '63 sequel to the hit comedy about a scientist inventing a new, improved version of rubber, and the groundbreaking computer-animation saga "TRON" ('82). In '80, Miller was promoted to president of Walt Disney Productions and named CEO three years later. During his brief tenure, the Disney imprint Touchstone Pictures was launched and the studio began to diversify from its traditional children's fare. In '84, however, key company shareholders replaced him with younger executives Michael Eisner and Frank Wells. Following the ouster, Miller retreated from the entertainment business.