Thomas Washington was a talented animator who became the first and only Black CEO of Disney in 1992. He had a vision to create “the blackest movie of all time”, which would be A Goofy Movie, featuring a Black Goofy and his son Max. However, his dream was cut short by the interference of the Disney board, who changed his preferred ending and fired him. Washington disappeared in 1995 and was presumed dead by suicide. His story is the subject of a documentary that aired on B.A.N., titled “The Goof Who Sat By the Door: The Thomas Washington Story”. This article will explore the life and death of Thomas Washington, and the impact he had on the animation industry and the Black community.

Early Life and Career

Thomas Washington was born in 1964 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was interested in animation since he was young and studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design, intending to work for Disney. After attending a talk hosted by Art Babbitt, the animator who developed Goofy, Washington started experimenting with animation and was soon hired by Disney. He worked on several projects, such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. He was known for his creativity, passion, and humor, as well as his dedication to diversity and representation in animation.

Becoming the CEO of Disney

In 1992, after the Los Angeles riots, Disney decided to appoint a Black man as its new CEO, in an attempt to improve its image and appeal to the Black audience. However, due to a mix-up of names, the board selected Thomas Washington instead of Tom Washington, a white man who was the intended candidate. Thomas Washington accepted the offer and became the first Black CEO of Disney. He had a bold plan to make “the blackest movie of all time”, which would be A Goofy Movie, a musical comedy featuring a Black Goofy and his son Max, who go on a road trip to bond and attend a concert by Powerline, a fictional pop star inspired by Prince and Michael Jackson. Washington wanted to make a movie that would celebrate Black culture, music, and family, and challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that Black people face in America. He hired a diverse team of writers, animators, and voice actors, including Brian McKnight, Sinbad, and Jenna Wortham, to work on the movie.

The Conflict with the Disney Board

However, Washington faced resistance and opposition from the Disney board, who did not share his vision and wanted to make the movie more mainstream and marketable. They criticized his creative choices, such as making Goofy Black, using hip-hop and R&B music, and addressing social issues such as racism, police brutality, and gentrification. They also interfered with the production and changed the ending of the movie, which originally had Max and Goofy joining Powerline on stage and performing a song called “I2I”, which was about seeing eye to eye and understanding each other. The board replaced the song with a generic pop song and cut out the scene where Max and Goofy hug and reconcile. They also fired Washington and replaced him with Michael Eisner, who was the CEO of Disney before and after him.

The Disappearance and Death of Thomas Washington

Washington was devastated by the betrayal and the loss of his dream. He also suffered from a rare eye condition that caused him to lose his eyesight. He became depressed and isolated himself from his family and friends. He disappeared in 1995 and was never seen again. His wife, who was interviewed for the documentary, said that she believed that he committed suicide, but his body was never found. She also said that he left behind a tape that contained the last footage that was ever recorded of him before he died. The tape showed him sitting in his office, holding a gun to his head, and saying “I’m sorry, I tried”. The documentary ended with the tape being played, followed by a tribute to Washington and his legacy.

The Legacy of Thomas Washington

Despite his tragic death, Thomas Washington left a lasting impact on the animation industry and the Black community. His movie, A Goofy Movie, became a cult classic and a source of inspiration and empowerment for many Black people who grew up watching it. The movie was praised for its humor, heart, and music, and for its portrayal of Black fatherhood, friendship, and identity. The movie also influenced many artists and creators, such as Donald Glover, who paid homage to Washington and his movie in an episode of his show Atlanta, which was titled “The Goof Who Sat By the Door” and was a mockumentary about Washington’s life and death. The episode was widely acclaimed by critics and fans, who appreciated Glover’s homage and commentary on the state of the entertainment industry and the Black experience in America. The episode also sparked a renewed interest and appreciation for Washington and his movie, and led to a petition to release the original version of A Goofy Movie, with Washington’s preferred ending and song. The petition has gained over a million signatures and is still ongoing.

Thomas Washington was a visionary and a pioneer who dared to make a difference and challenge the status quo. He was a goof who sat by the door, but he opened the door for many others to follow. He was a legend who will never be forgotten.