Tex Avery
| Tex Avery | |
|---|---|
.png) Tex Avery, circa 1940s. | |
| Born | Frederick Bean Avery February 26, 1908 Taylor, Texas |
| Died | August 26, 1980 Burbank, California |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Animator Director |
| Years active at MGM | 1941-1953 |
| Years active at Hanna-Barbera | 1980 |
Frederick Bean "Tex" Avery (February 26, 1908 – August 26, 1980) was an American animator, voice actor, director, and cartoonist. He is known for his works during the golden age of Hollywood, with most of his major work created for the animation unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and is credited for creating its characters such as Droopy, The Wolf, Red Hot Riding Hood, Screwy Squirrel, and George and Junior. He was also known for his work at the Warner Bros. animation unit, where he became crucial in the creation of famous animated characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd.
His influence came in part to his own innovation, directorial style, and brand of humor. Avery's attitude towards animation was the opposite of Walt Disney's cartoons and others alike, with many being presented as more sarcastic, ironic, surreal, and sometimes overtly laid with sexual undertones. Avery's cartoons focused on sight gags, rapid-fire comedy, and violent humor, with wacky characters that often broke the fourth wall. Avery had an effect on almost all of the animation studios during from the 1940s to 1950s, which still has influence in many cartoons to this day.
Avery died of lung cancer on August 26, 1980, at the age of 72.
Credits
Tributes
- In the letters section of Dark Horse Comics' Droopy #1, cartoonist Scott Shaw draws an affectionate caricature of Avery standing outside of his office at Hanna-Barbera, telling the other employees to call him by his real name Fred (as he did in real life), while dressed as Fred Flintstone.
