Biography.guide
Home › People › Screenwriter › Erdman Penner
Portrait of Erdman Penner

Erdman Penner

1905 – 1956

Canadian screenwriter, poet and film director

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Erdman Penner

Lived 1905 – 1956 (aged 51). Erdman Penner was a Canadian screenwriter, poet, film director, saxophonist, tubist and writer.

Erdman Penner (January 17, 1905 – November 10, 1956) was a Canadian screenwriter and producer, known for his work with Walt Disney, including writing the screenplays for Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp among others.

Life and career Penner was born into a Mennonite family in Rosthern, Saskatchewan, in 1905 to Dr. Erdman Penner (1873–1960) and Blanche Penner (1880–1962). Penner studied at the University of Saskatchewan, American Academy of Art in Chicago and the American School for Writers in Hollywood. He was hired by Walt Disney Productions in 1935, where he wrote and adapted stories for Pinocchio, Fantasia, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and others. He also wrote song lyrics for Peter Pan and was an associate producer on Lady and the Tramp. He also played bass saxophone and tuba for the Firehouse Five Plus Two. He died on November 10, 1956, in Los Angeles, California, US.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

People in Erdman Penner's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Erdman Penner's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Erdman Penner?

Canadian screenwriter, poet and film director (1905-1956)

When was Erdman Penner born?

Erdman Penner was born on 17 January 1905 in Rosthern.

When did Erdman Penner die?

Erdman Penner died on 10 November 1956 in Los Angeles.

What was Erdman Penner's occupation?

Erdman Penner was a screenwriter, poet, film director, saxophonist, tubist and writer.

What nationality was Erdman Penner?

Erdman Penner was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Erdman Penner

· Wikidata: Q11285682

· DBpedia: Erdman Penner

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erdman Penner. https://biography.guide/erdman-penner/

MLA: "Erdman Penner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erdman-penner/.

Chicago: "Erdman Penner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erdman-penner/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:24 UTC