Roy Williams was born in July of 1907 and was an artist at the Walt Disney Studios. While primarily a cartoon artist, Roy is best remembered for being the “adult Mouseketeer,” known as Big Roy, on The Mickey Mouse Club. The way he got there, with no acting experience, is an interesting story.

Born in Colville, Washington, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Roy attended Freemont High School. In high school, Roy gained the nickname “Moose,” because of his large size, and his prowess as a popular and skilled football player. He also drew funny cartoons for his high school newspaper. His father had crossed to the other side before Roy was twelve years old, and his mom supported the family by working in a candy shop and as a hotel chambermaid... 

Bonnie was born Bonita Lynn Fields in Walterboro, South Carolina on July 18, 1944. Bonnie’s parents were Beverly and Woodrow Fields. They moved to Richmond, Indiana when she was still a newborn. In Richmond, she took her first dancing lessons when she was two years old. When Bonnie was nine years old, her family moved to Granada Hills, California.

Bonnie continued to take dancing lessons there, at the DeRea School of Dance. She also took singing lessons to help develop her natural coloratura soprano singing voice. Bonnie excelled at ballet but was also skilled at other forms of dancing that were popular at the time. She performed with small groups of children on local TV, and also live at charity events and for the USO, but did not have any actual professional credits. She began taking tap dancing lessons as an older child, long after she was proficient at other styles of dance. Six months after beginning tap lessons, the Disney Company announced that they would be having auditions for new Mouseketeers for the third season of The Mickey Mouse Club...