10 Donald Duck facts you probably didn’t know
Let’s all celebrate National Donald Duck Day.
Donald first appeared on the silver screen on June 9, 1934, in the cartoon “The Wise Little Hen.” While that is his official first appearance, there is a little discrepancy about his “birthday.” In the 1994 film “The Three Caballeros” Donald’s birthday is given as Friday the 13th. And in the short “Donald’s Happy Birthday” when his birthday was given as March 13.
No matter, Disney moved to make the character’s first appearance on screen when to celebrate his birthday.
Here are 10 more little-known facts about Donald Duck.
1. Donald is a White Pekin duck, also known as a Long Island Duck, which makes sense because Donald’s quick temper does make him sound like a New Yorker. Actually, his species was bred in China and was first brought from China to the U.S., specifically New York, in 1873.
2. Donald’s full name was revealed as Donald Fauntleroy Duc in the 1942 film “Donald Gets Drafted.”
3. In 1995, an asteroid was named after Donald. Asteroid 12410 is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
4. Donald is the only animated character to co-host the Academy Awards. In 1958 he joined Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, David Niven, Rosalind Russell, and James Stewart with the honors. While he never appeared on stage, he did his hosting duties from the screen.
5. Donald is the only popular film and television cartoon character to be a mascot for a major U.S. university. He was drawn as the FIghting Duck for the University of Oregon.
6. In 1984, Donald was named an honorary alumnus of the University of Oregon during his 50th birthday celebration.
7. In 2005, Donald was given his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
8. Donald’s name may have been inspired by Australian cricket legend Donald Bradman. In 1932, Bradman and the Australian team were touring North America, and he made the news after being dismissed for a “duck,” which means being dismissed for a score of zero when playing against the New York West Indians. Walt Disney reportedly read about Donald’s duck and the rest is history.
9. Donald’s better half, Daisy Duck, was first called Donna when she first appeared in the 1937 short “Don Donald.”
10. In The Kinks’ song “The Village Green Preservation Society,” songwriter Ray Davies references Donald Duck: “We are the Village Green Preservation Society/ God save Donald Duck, vaudeville, and variety…” This reference is ironic since the song is about how traditional English cultural artifacts are disappearing.
