Tom and Jerry director Gene Deitch dies aged 95
Gene Deitch, the Oscar winning animator, filmmaker, and illustrator behind classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry and Popeye has died at the age of 95.
The news was confirmed by his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel. Deitch died unexpectedly at his home in Prague on Thursday night, but no further details or cause of death has yet been provided.
He is survived by his wife, and his three sons from a previous marriage. All of his sons have followed in their father and mother’s footsteps to become cartoonists and animators as well.
Deitch was born in Chicago in 1924 but moved to California as a child. After a brief military career, he quickly made his name in the world of animation and began to receive recognition from those within his industry.