Daniel Gerson, best known for co-writing Disney's "Big Hero 6" and Pixar's two "Monsters" films died February 6th, 2016 at his home in Los Angeles after battling brain cancer. He was 49 years old. A New York State native, Gerson grew up immersed in the arts and starring in musical theater performances at his high school. Gerson graduated with an English degree from Cornell University before receiving an MFA from New York University film school. After beginning his career as a staff writer on the NBC television sitcom "Something So Right," which ran 1996-1998, Gerson soon transitioned to feature film, co-writing 2001's "Monsters, Inc." with Andrew Stanton, as well as 2013's "Monsters University" with Dan Scanlon and Robert L. Baird. Baird and Gerson worked as writing partners for fifteen years, collaborating on "Big Hero 6," which won the Academy Award for animated feature in 2015. The pair were also at work on the upcoming Pixar sequel "Cars 3." Gerson was also a talented voice actor, voicing the characters of Needleman and Smitty in "Monsters, Inc." as well as Desk Sergeant Gerson in "Big Hero 6." Gerson is survived by his wife, Beau Stacom; his two children, Claire and Asher; his parents, Mary-Joan and Charles; and his sister, Jessica.
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Cars 3
2017
filming
Big Hero 6
2014
screenplay by
Monsters University
2013
screenplay by / story by
Tangled Ever After
2012
Short additional story material
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
2011
TV Short additional story
Chicken Little
2005
additional story material
Monsters, Inc.
2002
Video Game characters
Monsters, Inc.
2001
screenplay by
Misguided Angels
1999
TV Series writer
Big Wolf on Campus
1999
TV Series writer
The New Addams Family
1998
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Something So Right
1998
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man
1997
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Prep & Landing
2009
TV Short additional story material
Meet the Robinsons
2007
additional story material
Cars
2006
additional screenplay material
Chicken Little
2005
additional story material
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Big Hero 6
2014
Desk Sergeant (voice)
Monsters University
2013
Additional Voices (voice)
Monsters, Inc.
2001
Needleman
Smitty (voice)
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Inside Out
2015/I
special thanks
Up
2009
special thanks - as Dan Gerson
Open Season
2006
special thanks - as Dan Gerson
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 88th Annual Academy Awards
2016
TV Special
Himself (Memorial Tribute)
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2002
BAFTA Children's Award
BAFTA Awards
Best Feature Film
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2015
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Big Hero 6 (2014)
2014
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Achievement in Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Monsters University (2013)
2003
Annie
Annie Awards
Outstanding Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
2002
Saturn Award
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
$1.2 Million
