Disney character may be inspired by former Lynner

LYNN – Although Disney is calling it a mere coincidence former Lynn resident Walter Day has been immortalized as Mr. Litwak in the conglomerates latest animated flick, “Wreck-It Ralph.””I get emails and phone calls every day from people telling me ?that’s you,'” he said. “It does look like me but a little younger.”Day grew on Rockdale Street, went to Pickering Middle School and graduated from English High School in 1967. Years later he would move to Iowa, a state he still calls home.”I still have cousins in the (Lynn),” he said. “I’ve been away a long time but when I come back ? it’s a beautiful place. Iowa is very flat.”Day has made a career out of video games. In 2010 he retired from Twin Galaxies, a organization that tracks video game and pinball world records and conducts electronic-gaming promotions. In the movie Mr. Litwak, voiced by Ed O’Neill, owns the arcade that houses among others, the title game, “Wreck-It Ralph.” His character also wears a black and white striped referee shirt, which was Day’s trademark at Twin Galaxies.Day said it was a surprise to him when people began talking on line about Litwak’s striking resemblance to him. At one point, he said he even called Disney’s legal department and asked if the character was in fact him.”The PR (public relations) Department called it a coincidence but other places say it’s me,” he said.The Disneywiki website lists the “inspiration for the Mr. Litwak character is Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day.”Day said he believes the movies creators may have inadvertently used his likeness because he’s been in other movies. He’s played himself in two documentaries, “King of Kong” and “Chasing Ghosts,” and is well known in the gaming world.”It’s kind of funny and also surreal,” he said. “There’s no real value for me except that I get some recognition for my contribution to the gaming world – it’s a subtle nod. Thank God they didn’t cast me as a villain.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].