Eugene Merril Deitch, an American-Czech illustrator, animator, comics artist, and film director who was born in Chicago on August 8, 1924 died in Prague on April 16, 2020, at the age of 95. Shortly before his death, Deitch had noted intestinal problems.
Deitch was known for creating animated cartoons such as Munro, Tom Terrific, and Nudnik, as well as his work on the Popeyeand Tom and Jerry series.
Deitch won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Munro in 1960.
Deitch was the co-producer of Sidney’s Family Tree which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1958.
He was then nominated for the same award twice in 1964 for his movies Here’s Nudnik and How to Avoid Friendship.
In 2004 he was presented with the Winsor McCay Award for his lifelong contribution to animation.
He is survived by his wife and three sons from his first marriage. The children all followed in his footsteps and work as cartoonists and illustrators.
