James R. Simon

James R. Simon was born on February 13, 1908 in North Platte, Nebraska, USA.

American zoologist and photographer, graduate of the University of Wyoming. An expert ichthyologist, he was employed in 1936 as a ranger at Yellowstone National Park where he went on to catalogue fish species distribution (subsequently published in book format). He was appointed Wyoming State Fish Commissioner the following year.

Simon took on a new position in 1947 as director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Park. He also perfected his skills as a cameraman in the course of his affiliation with the New York Zoological Society. This work soon sparked the interest of the Disney Organisation and he was signed on as a cinematographer in 1952. For the next seven years, Simon collaborated on several award-winning True-Life documentaries, culminating in Jungle Cat (1960). In later years, he promoted his state as special projects director for the Wyoming Travel Commission.

James R. Simon created the myth about lemmings committing mass suicide for Disney's popular documentary film, "White Wilderness." Photographers in the 1950's and 1960's often staged events to obtain exciting footage. To shoot the lemming sequence, Simon purchased several from Inuit children "and brought them from Manitoba to Alberta - well outside their native habitat. They were placed on a snow-covered turntable and filmed from several angles, creating the appearance of many lemmings migrating together; they were then taken to a cliff and herded into the water. Disney has never admitted to knowing about Simon's actions".

He is known for his work on Perri (1957), The Magical World of Disney (1954) and The Best of Walt Disney's True-Life Adventures (1975).