David H. DePatie, the the animation producer who, along with partner Friz Freleng created one of the most enduring and recognizable cartoon characters of the last century in the Pink Panther, died Sept. 23 of natural causes in Gig Harbor, Washington. He was 91.
His death was announced in a Seattle Times obituary.
In addition to the Pink Panther, which started as part of the main title credits for Blake Edwards’ 1963 heist comedy starring Peter Sellars before spinning off into its own cartoon shorts throughout the ’60s and ’70s, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises generated such instantly identifiable characters as StarKist Tuna’s Charlie Tuna, the cartoon versions of Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman for the opening credits of I Dream of Jeannie, and such children’s staples as The Ant and the Aardvark; Roland and Rattfink and Tijuana Toads, Here Comes the Grump, What’s New Mr. Magoo, Return to the Planet of the Apes,...
His death was announced in a Seattle Times obituary.
In addition to the Pink Panther, which started as part of the main title credits for Blake Edwards’ 1963 heist comedy starring Peter Sellars before spinning off into its own cartoon shorts throughout the ’60s and ’70s, DePatie-Freleng Enterprises generated such instantly identifiable characters as StarKist Tuna’s Charlie Tuna, the cartoon versions of Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman for the opening credits of I Dream of Jeannie, and such children’s staples as The Ant and the Aardvark; Roland and Rattfink and Tijuana Toads, Here Comes the Grump, What’s New Mr. Magoo, Return to the Planet of the Apes,...
- 10/14/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Amazonian creature from “The Shape of Water” had a difficult decade after he and Sally Hawkins sought their happily-ever-after in a Baltimore canal — at least according to the collective imagination of the “Saturday Night Live” writing staff. A cut-for-time taped sketch from this weekend’s John Mulaney-hosted episode follows the downward career trajectory of amphibious actor Fish Man (Kyle Mooney), star of Guillermo del Toro’s recent Best Picture Oscar winner. The character was actually played by six-time del Toro collaborator Doug Jones, who answered to the onset nickname “Charlie Tuna.”
“Fish Dreams” opens in agent (Beck Bennett)’s office, where Fish Man passes up a part in Martin Scorsese’s ocean-set “Goodfellas” remake (“Fishfellas”), eager to stock his just-leased gallery space with his original photographs. At Fish Man’s art opening, his pal and fellow gilled actor, Roger (Mulaney) gets his permission to pursue the role instead.
“Fish Dreams” opens in agent (Beck Bennett)’s office, where Fish Man passes up a part in Martin Scorsese’s ocean-set “Goodfellas” remake (“Fishfellas”), eager to stock his just-leased gallery space with his original photographs. At Fish Man’s art opening, his pal and fellow gilled actor, Roger (Mulaney) gets his permission to pursue the role instead.
- 4/16/2018
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
An unforgettable and gorgeous fairy tale about the most unlikely of romances, Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is a visual triumph, a beautiful testament to the power of film, and the director’s biggest cinematic achievement to date. At the recent press day for The Shape of Water, Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with a pair of the film’s co-stars, Doug Jones and Richard Jenkins, whose characters share a common bond in The Shape of Water: the love of the film’s lovely hero, Elisa (played by Sally Hawkins), whose devotion affects them both deeply, but in very different ways.
During the interview, Jones discussed how his “Amphibian Man” in del Toro’s latest movie differs from creatures they had previously collaborated on, his approach to the physicality of the mysterious god-like water creature, and how he related to this character. Jenkins chatted...
During the interview, Jones discussed how his “Amphibian Man” in del Toro’s latest movie differs from creatures they had previously collaborated on, his approach to the physicality of the mysterious god-like water creature, and how he related to this character. Jenkins chatted...
- 12/1/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
In his seven weeks of shooting “The Shape of Water,” the film’s male lead, Doug Jones, could not grasp a doorknob, send a text message, breathe through his mouth, or go to the bathroom while in costume. His call time to the Toronto set was a “mercifully short” three hours earlier than co-stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, and Octavia Spencer.
Each morning, four people armed with K-y Jelly shoehorned him into a latex, foam, and rubber bodysuit, built from a cast of his six-foot-three, 140-pound frame. Then came webbed-fingered gloves (glued on), following by a neck and fiberglass helmet, which featured built-in buzzing, whirring mechanics to puppeteer his gills off camera. Once dressed, barely able to see or hear, Jones was required at various times to hang from a hip harness, stand on a smoke-bathed teeter-totter to simulate bobbing in water, and employ scuba diving techniques while acting in a flooded,...
Each morning, four people armed with K-y Jelly shoehorned him into a latex, foam, and rubber bodysuit, built from a cast of his six-foot-three, 140-pound frame. Then came webbed-fingered gloves (glued on), following by a neck and fiberglass helmet, which featured built-in buzzing, whirring mechanics to puppeteer his gills off camera. Once dressed, barely able to see or hear, Jones was required at various times to hang from a hip harness, stand on a smoke-bathed teeter-totter to simulate bobbing in water, and employ scuba diving techniques while acting in a flooded,...
- 11/24/2017
- by Jenna Marotta
- Indiewire
Charlie Tuna, the popular DJ and TV announcer whose voice was familiar to generations of Los Angeles radio listeners, has died. He was 71. A post on his official website said he died in his sleep on February 19. Born Art Ferguson on April 18, 1944, he started in radio at 16 in his hometown on Kearney, Ne. After stints in Wichita, Oklahoma City — where he was rechristened as Charlie Tuna — and Boston, he landed a late-morning shifts as one of the “Boss Jocks” on L.A…...
- 3/1/2016
- Deadline TV
The Heads of Advertising Series by Dana Lechtenberg is a series of giclee printed advertising mascot portraits that the artist created for a show at Reactor Design Studio. Cap'n Crunch, Frankenberry, Charlie Tuna, and Little Green Sprout make appearances here, along with a host of other mascots. Fankenberry is an oft-overlooked sentimental favorite of mine, so I was glad to see his inclusion. Who is your favorite?
Here is a statement about the artist’s inspiration:
“When I was about nine or ten...and I would go to the local Fareway grocery store with my mom in Decorah, Iowa...I would grab a brown paper bag from the big barrel of peanuts...sit in front of the cereal aisle...and draw the characters from the boxes. I believe that Frankenberry was my favorite. The kids around Spillville (population: three hundy) would also have me draw pictures of the Smurfs, Garfield and Popeye for them.
Here is a statement about the artist’s inspiration:
“When I was about nine or ten...and I would go to the local Fareway grocery store with my mom in Decorah, Iowa...I would grab a brown paper bag from the big barrel of peanuts...sit in front of the cereal aisle...and draw the characters from the boxes. I believe that Frankenberry was my favorite. The kids around Spillville (population: three hundy) would also have me draw pictures of the Smurfs, Garfield and Popeye for them.
- 9/30/2014
- by Mily Dunbar
- GeekTyrant
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