Tom and Jerry Director Gene Deitch Passes Away At 95

Gene Deitch, the director of our favourite Popeye and Tom and Jerry show is no more. He passed away in his apartment in Prague. However, no cause of death is known as of yet. The Oscar-winning illustrator, Eugene Merrill Deitch also directed Munro, Tom Terrific and Nudnik. His Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, confirmed the news of his demise to The Associated Press, adding that the star passed away unexpectedly.

Key Takeaways:

• Director of the famous animation shows Popeye and Tom and Jerry, Gener Deitch passed away on last Thursday, at his apartment in Prague.
• His death was confirmed by his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, who couldn't confirm the cause of the death and added that the star passed away unexpectedly. 
• In 2003, he was awarded the Annie Awards' Winsor McCay Award by ASIFA Hollywood for his lifetime contribution to the art of animation. 

The Legend Who Died At 95

Gene Deitch, whose full name was Eugene Merrill Deitch passed away at his apartment in Prague. He was aged 95. The legendary man whose shows are a part of our childhood memories passed away unexpectedly, with the reason for his death not confirmed yet. His career in animation took off after 1944, when he was discharged from his military and entering pilot training due to medical reasons. Initially, he worked as a draftsman for the North American Aviation and was henceforth drafted for military and entering pilot training.

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Animation Career

He not only directed the most popular and favourite of all time cartoon shows, but also received a number of accolades for his work. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his film Sidney’s Family Tree in 1958. Two years later, he went on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his film Munro. Further, after four years, he was nominated twice in the same category in 1964 for Nudnik and How to Avoid Friendship. In 2003, he was awarded the Annie Awards' Winsor McCay Award by ASIFA Hollywood for his lifetime contribution to the art of animation.

During his career, he worked as a creative director at of Terrytoons, under 20th Century Fox, where he created characters like Sidney the Elephant, Gaston Le Crayon, Clint Clobber, and Terr’ble Thompson. At Rembrandt Films, he created a number of Popeye cartoons in 1960. Along with this, he also created a number of Tom and Jerry shorts for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

In 1966, he directed the film Alice in Wonderland in Paris. The same year, he also worked for the animated film adaptation of The Hobbit. He retired in 2008 and until then, he was the leading animation director for the Connecticut Organization Weston Woods Studio. From The Drummer Hoff in 1969 to Voyage To The Bunny Planet in 2008, he adapted around 37 films for Weston Woods.

May the soul, which added unmatched amusement to our childhood through his animated shows, rest in peace!

Picture Credit- Zoom TV

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