Gene Deitch
| Gene Deitch | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
August 8, 1924 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Illustrator, animator, director |
| Years active | 1945-present |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Deitch (m. 1943–?) Zdenka Deitchova (née Najmanová; m. 1964–present) |
| Children | 3 including Kim Deitch |
| Website | http://www.genedeitch.com/ |
Eugene Merril "Gene" Deitch (born August 8, 1924) is an American illustrator, animator and film director. Based in Prague since 1959, Deitch is known for creating animated cartoons such as Munro, Tom Terrific, and Nudnik, as well as his work on the Popeye and Tom and Jerry series.
Deitch was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of salesman Joseph Deitch and Ruth Delson Deitch. In 1929, the family moved to California, and Deitch attended school in Hollywood. He graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1942, and began working for North American Aviation, drawing aircraft blueprints. In 1943, Deitch was drafted and underwent pilot training before catching pneumonia and being honorably discharged in May of the following year.
Beginning his cartooning and animation career, Deitch contributed covers and interior art to the jazz magazine The Record Changer.
Deitch took a position at the animation studio United Productions of America (UPA) and later became the creative director of Terrytoons, creating such characters as Sidney the Elephant,Gaston Le Crayon, John Doormat, and Clint Clobber. Beginning in 1955, while working at UPA, Deitch wrote and drew the United Feature Syndicate comic strip The Real-Great Adventures of Terr’ble Thompson!, Hero of History, starring a courageous child in fantastical adventures. A skit about Terr'ble Thompson had been recorded by Little Golden Records, with actor Art Carney and bandleader Mitch Miller participating. That led to the daily strip, which ran from Sunday, October 16, 1955, to April 14, 1956.
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