Eric attended the University of Utah as a journalism major. While studying as a Ute, he became editor of the campus magazine and was known for his wit, both in written articles and cartoons. He even got a few into the local newspaper. After graduation, Eric hit the road as a freelancer, ending up in Los Angeles in 1933. One of the first things he did in town was develop a radio serial named "The Trail of the Viking" for KHJ Radio. That same year, a friend witnessed Eric's drawing skills and suggested he apply at the Disney Studio.
Almost immediately hired on as an assistant animator, Eric would be instrumental in developing, and later maintaining, the high artistic quality the Disney Studio became known for. He also solidly earned his place as one of Walt's Nine Old Men.
The list of characters Eric created is extensive:
As an animation director for Pinocchio, he created Figaro, a character he would frequently claim as his favorite.
He was in charge of the centaurs and horses in the "Pastoral Symphony segment of Fantasia.
His next two movies also involved birds: the Aracuan bird in The Three Caballeros and Sasha the Bird for Make Mine Music.
He was a directing animator on Song of the South, Melody Time and So Dear to My Heart.
He co-animated the title character in Cinderella with fellow Old Man, Marc Davis.
He flew everyone to Neverland in Peter Pan.
Peg, the Pekingese leader of the pound, was his contribution to Lady and the Tramp.
He was a Sequence Director on Sleeping Beauty.
He assisted in creating several of the puppies for 101 Dalmatians.
Eric also contributed to The Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Robin Hood and dozens of shorts.
One of the last pieces of actual animation Eric did for the studio was the title sequence for The Rescuers in 1977.
After Walt's death in 1965, it became more and more apparent with each passing year that the talent pool the studio had enjoyed for decades was steadily shrinking. In 1973, Eric began ramping up the Talent Program to usher in the next generation of animators. He became a devoted mentor to such newcomers as Andreas Deja, who created Jafar for Aladdin and Scar for The Lion King, and a laundry list of others: Glen Keane, Gary Goldman, and Betsy Baytos to name a few. Deja once said that "no one was more concerned with passing on the Disney legacy than Eric."
By 1981, the rest of the Nine Old Men had either retired or passed away. As the last representative of the old school, Eric spent his final years with the company as an animation consultant, gently shepherding the new kids who'd come into their own on films like The Fox and the Hound. After watching over The Black Cauldron and The Great Mouse Detective, Eric retired in September of 1986 after more than 52 years spent creating Disney magic. Two years later, he would pass away in La Canada Flintridge, California, near Glendale, on October 25, 1988.
Eric was posthumously made a Disney Legend, along with his fellow Old Men, in 1989.
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