Daniel Gerson, a renowned screenwriter, left an indelible mark on the world of animation, particularly with his work on Disney's "Big Hero 6" and Pixar's "Monsters" franchise. Tragically, his life was cut short on February 6th, 2016, at the age of 49, due to his valiant battle with brain cancer.
Born and raised in New York State, Gerson's artistic inclinations were evident from a young age. He honed his skills in musical theater performances during his high school days. His academic pursuits took him to Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in English, followed by an MFA from New York University's prestigious film school.
Gerson's professional journey began as a staff writer on the NBC sitcom "Something So Right" (1996-1998),before transitioning to feature films. He co-wrote the 2001 blockbuster "Monsters, Inc." alongside Andrew Stanton, and later collaborated with Dan Scanlon and Robert L. Baird on 2013's "Monsters University". Baird and Gerson formed a successful writing partnership, lasting fifteen years and yielding the Academy Award-winning "Big Hero 6" in 2015. The duo was also working on the highly anticipated Pixar sequel "Cars 3" at the time of Gerson's passing.
In addition to his impressive writing credits, Gerson was a talented voice actor, lending his voice to characters such as Needleman and Smitty in "Monsters, Inc." and Desk Sergeant Gerson in "Big Hero 6".
Gerson leaves behind a loving family, including his wife, Beau Stacom; their two children, Claire and Asher; his parents, Mary-Joan and Charles; and his sister, Jessica.
