Oscar Winning Animator & Director Of The Iconic 'Tom And Jerry' Gene Deitch Passes Away At 95

In heartbreaking news, Oscar-winning animation director, producer, and creator of iconic cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Popeye The Sailor Man has died at age 95.?

The beloved artist passed away on Thursday night in Prague, where he lived with his wife??Zdenka Najmanova and their three sons.?

Reuters

Born on 8th August 1924, in Chicago, Deitch came to Prague in 1959. He originally planned a 10-day stay, but met his future wife, Zdenka, and stayed on in the Czechoslovakian capital.??

It was in Prague where he directed 13 episodes of the animated and immensely loved?Tom and Jerry?and also some of thePopeye the Sailor?series.??

Reuters

Another noteworthy creation of Gene Deitch was Tom Terrific,?which was presented as part of the Captain Kangaroo children’s television show. Tom Terrific was a black and white, five-minute short that was modeled on children’s drawings.??

In 2004, he received the Winsor McCay Award for his lifelong contribution to animation.?

Reuters

It's very difficult to find someone who hasn't seen Tom & Jerry or Popeye The Sailor Man in their childhood. These are not just cartoons but the most beautiful memories of our lives, something we owe to Gene Deitch and his legacy.??