Legendary animator director of Tom and Jerry, Gene Deitch dies at Prague at the age of 95. He is one of the directors who directed several episodes of Tom and Jerry.
Tom and Jerry Director, Gene Deitch, an American Oscar-winning illustrator, animator, film director and producer dies at the age of 95.
He was born on August 8 in 1924, in Chicago, Deitch arrived in Prague in 1959 just for a visit for 10 days. He fell in love with his future wife, Zdenka, and stayed in the Czechoslovakian capital.
Deitch’s won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, Munro, in 1960. He was also nominated for the same award twice for Here’s Nudnik, and How to Avoid Friendship in 1964.
Earlier, he was nominated for an Academy Award in 1958. He had created the Tom Terrific series, while Sidney’s Family Tree. He directed 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry and also some of the Popeye the Sailor series.
He received the Winsor McCay Award for his lifelong contribution to animation in 2004.
Deitch is survived by his wife and by three sons.. all his children are cartoonists and illustrators.
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