Born Isadore Freleng, August 21, 1906, in Kansas City, MO; died of a heart ailment, May 26, 1995, in Los Angeles, CA. Producer, director, writer, and animator. Creator of popular cartoon characters--including the feisty westerner Yosemite Sam--Freleng directed the team of animators at Warner Brothers responsible for the development of over three hundred cartoons featuring such favorites as Bugs Bunny, the Pink Panther, Wile E. Coyote, the Roadrunner, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, and Speedy Gonzales. Beginning as ananimator with United Film Advancement Services in 1924, Freleng moved brieflyto Walt Disney studios in 1927, then to Warner Brothers in 1930 where he became head animator and producer until 1962. Nominated for numerous Academy Awards, Freleng was awarded Oscars for Tweety Pie in 1947, Speedy Gonzales in 1955, Birds Anonymous in 1957, Knighty Knight Bugs in 1958, and The Pink Phinkin 1964, and Emmy Awards for Halloween Is Grinch Night in 1977, and The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat in 1982. In 1963 Freleng and David H. DePatie created the DePatie-Freleng Studio, specializing in television and theatricalshort films and commercials. Freleng returned to Warner Brothers to direct numerous specials in the 1980s, including Porky Pig in Hollywood and Daffy Duck's Quackbusters. He made an appearance in 1986 on CBS's Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All Star 50th Anniversary special, and in the 1988 production of Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toontown. In addition to film and production work, Freleng wrote the script for 1981's Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie, and contributed to scripts for Bugs Bunny's Third Movie-- 1001 Rabbit Tales and Daffy Duck's Movie Fantastic Island. His most recent publications include The Art of Animation: Friz Freleng.
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