Thank you for making our childhood awesome: Tom and Jerry creator Gene Deitch dies at 95

MUSCAT: Gene Deitch, an American Oscar-winning illustrator, animator, film director and producer has died. He was 95.

Deitch, one the directors behind one of world’s most popular cartoons, Tom and Jerry, died in his apartment in Prague, his Czech publisher, Petr Himmel, told The Associated Press.

Born on August 8 in 1924, in Chicago, Deitch, whose full name was Eugene Merrill Deitch, was known for directing some of the most popular animator cartoons, including Popeye the Sailor Man, Munro, Tom Terrific and Nudnik.

His fans in social media began to pour tributes:

Gene Deitch (1924 – 2020)
Thank you Gene for making my childhood awesome.
"Tom & Jerry And Popeye Director"#GeneDeitch pic.twitter.com/QJemYZsiZU
— Ambivert (@Dr_Sneha_) April 20, 2020

Rest in Power #GeneDeitch The creator of Tom & Jerry, Popeye and Munro. Thank you for creating such immortal characters that will keep adding smiles to everyone’s childhood. You will be missed, your work will travel through many generations. Your art will be remembered. pic.twitter.com/o6bAEaUZJt
— Pallav Gogoi (@pallav_) April 20, 2020

Creator of Tom and Jerry, Popeye and Munro dies at the age of 95.
RIP #GeneDeitch You made a our childhood fun. Thank You.

❤❤ pic.twitter.com/JCPRG07pAJ
— Heer 🌸 (@nikkupikku) April 20, 2020

Monday, October 27, 2025

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