The immortal mouse grossed a whopping $4.7 billion in 2002.

Mickey Mouse's cartoons became so popular that people would first ask ticket takers if they were "running a Mickey" before they would purchase admission. Soon, (US) theaters were displaying posters that read "Mickey Mouse playing today!"

His associates included Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto and Donald Duck among others.

In 1932 an Oscar was presented to Walt Disney for the creation of Mickey Mouse. The peak of Mickey Mouse's golden decade was his starring role as the sorcerer's apprentice in the feature Fantasia in 1940.

With the advent of World War II, the Disney Studio suspended nearly all commercial activity and concentrated on aiding the war effort. Incredibly, the password of the Allied forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944, was "Mickey Mouse."

Mickey appeared in his second feature, Fun and Fancy Free in 1947. Mickey Mouse moved to Disneyland in 1955 to become the chief host of the theme park, welcoming millions of visitors annually.

Euro Disney theme park in Marne-la-Vallee, outside Paris

Photograph: Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images

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