(Image source from: indiatoday.in)

While majority of the internet users are aware of what Tom and Jerry is and how popular the cartoon show was, people knew the man behind that masterpiece too. Sadly, Oscar-award winning director, Gene Dietch who was the director of Tom and Jerry and Popeye died at the age of 95.

Dietch was reportedly found dead in his apartment in Prague, as mentioned by his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel.

Eugene Merrill Deitch, who was born on August 08, 1924 was one of the most popular illustrator and animator of his times. His contributions to Popeye, Tom and Jerry, Munro and Nudnik are the ones that people still talk about.

He is known for his direction of multiple episodes of Tom and Jerry and Popeye, the sailor man.

Dietch found his way in Prague in 1959 on a 10-day vacation where he met his wife, Zdenka and fell in love and settled down in this beautiful Czechoslovakian capital. Some of his most noticeable works were created while he was in Prague.

Dietch won his first Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960 for his film Munro. Aside from that, two of his other films, Here’s Nudnik and How to Avoid Friendship had also been nominated in the same category.

One of his series, Sidney’s Family tree, the one that he co-produced was also oscar nominated in the year of 1958.

Dietch won the Winsor McCay award for his lifetime contribution to animation in the year of 2004. He has left behind his wife and three sons from his first marriage. All of his children have followed his footprint and are popular illustrators and cartoonists.

By Somapika Dutta