Gene Deitch, Creator Of Tom And Jerry, Popeye Cartoons, Dies At 95 In Prague

On April 16, 2020, Gene Deitch, the Oscar-winning American director, illustrator, animator, and comic artist, died in Prague. Deitch was 95-years-old when he breathed his last. The legendary animator is known for his work on the highly admired animated series ‘Tom and Jerry’ and ‘Popeye the Sailor’. He was also the creator of cartoons such as Munro, Tom Terrific, and Nudnik. Born in 1924, Deitch initially trained as a pilot. However, he later went on to work as an illustrator for magazines before eventually turning towards animation. Deitch won the Academy Award in the animated short film category for his movie ‘Munro’ in 1960. He was also nominated twice in 1964 in the same category for his films ‘Here’s Nudnik’ and ‘How to Avoid Friendship’. Deitch was awarded the Winsor McCay Award in recognition of his lifetime contributions in animation in 2004. Watch the video to know more about the great animator.