Harper Goff

Harper Goff (born March 16 1911 in Fort Collins, Colorado, died March 3 1993) was an artist, musician, and actor. He is best remembered as the driving artistic force behind many of the visual aspects of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and several areas of the Walt Disney World theme park.

Harper Goff at work in 1970

Harper Goff at work in 1970

A lifelong model train enthusiast, Harper Goff quickly became an important member of the Walt Disney Company's Los Angeles artistic team after a chance meeting with Walt Disney in a London model-making shop in 1951. His flamboyant work gave distinctive character to a number of films and tourist attractions. Despite periodic differences with his employer over unionization, he worked for Disney (increasingly in a consulting role) until his death in 1993. He was posthumously named a Disney Legend.

• 1971 - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Art Director
• 1966 - Fantastic Voyage - Creative Production Research
• 1958 - The Vikings - Production Designer and Assistant To Producer
• 1956 - The Great Locomotive Chase - Production Research
• 1955 - Pete Kelly's Blues - Production Designer
• 1954 - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Supervising Art Director

As an actor, Goff played a number of minor roles:

• 1955 - Pete Kelly's Blues - Tuxedo Band member (uncredited)
• 1954 - Dragnet - Employee, Melrose Bridge Club (uncredited)
• 1952 - Carrie - Man (uncredited)
• 1954 - Dragnet (episode 3.31, "The Big Girl") - Emil Collins
• 1953 - Dragnet (episode 2.18, "The Big Break") -
• 1951 - Detective Story - Gallantz (uncredited)

He was also a member, on banjo of the seven piece Dixieland band Firehouse Five Plus Two formed by other Walt Disney staff-mates and led by trombonist Ward Kimball.