NEW YORK
Tom and Jerry director Gene Deitch dies New York The Oscarwinning filmmaker directed 13 episodes of the iconic show along with some from Popeye. Gene Deitch, an American Oscar-winning illustrator, animator, film director and producer has died. He was 95. His Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, told The Associated Press Deitch died unexpectedly during the night from Thursday to Friday in his apartment in Prague’s Little Quarter neighborhood. No further details were given. Deitch’s movie Munro won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960. He was also nominated for the same award twice in 1964 for Here’s Nudnik and “How to Avoid Friendship.” Earlier, he had created the Tom Terrific series, while the Sidney’s Family Tree, which he coproduced was nominated for an Academy Award in 1958. – AP
