HOLLYWOOD, February 22, 2002 - Chuck Jones, legendary animation director and artist, best known for his work on the Warner Bros. classic Looney Tunes cartoon series, died today of congestive heart failure. Marian, his wife of 20 years, was by his side at their home in Corona del Mar.

In a career spanning over 60 years, Jones made more than 300 animated films, winning three Oscars as director and in 1996 an honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. Among the many awards and recognitions, one of those most valued was the honorary life membership from the Directors Guild of America.

During the Golden Age of animation Jones helped bring to life many of Warner Bros. most famous characters -- Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig. The list of characters he created himself includes Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Marvin Martian, Pepe le Pew, Michigan J. Frog and many others. He also produced, directed and wrote the screenplays for "Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas," a television classic, as well as the feature-length film "The Phantom Tollbooth." In addition, Jones was a prolific artist whose work has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide.

Jones often recalled a small child who, when told that Jones drew Bugs Bunny, replied: "He doesn’t draw Bugs Bunny. He draws pictures of Bugs Bunny." His point was that the child thought of the character as being alive and believable, which was, in Jones’ belief, the key to true character animation.

Born on September 21, 1912 in Spokane, Washington, Jones grew up in Hollywood where he observed the talents of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton and worked occasionally as a child extra in Mac Sennett comedies. After graduating from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (now California Institute of the Arts) Jones drew pencil portraits for a dollar a piece on Olvera Street. Then, in 1932, he got his first job in the fledgling animation industry as a cel washer for former Disney animator, Ubbe Iwerks.

In 1936 Jones became an animator for the Leon Schlesinger Studio (later sold to Warner Bros.), and in 1938 directed his first film, The Night Watchman. Heading his own unit, Jones remained at Warner Bros. Animation Dept. until it closed in 1962. During that time he and several other directors developed and refined the personalities and characteristics of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and many others.

He moved to MGM Studios where he created new episodes from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. While there, in addition to The Phantom Tollbooth and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Jones directed the Academy Award winning film, The Dot and the Line.

Jones established his own production company, Chuck Jones Enterprises, in 1962 and produced nine half-hour animation films for television including Rudyard Kipling’s Rikki Tikki Tavi and The White Seal.

In the late 70s Jones and his daughter, Linda Jones Clough, pioneered a continuing art business featuring limited edition images created by Jones depicting scenes from his most enduring cartoons. One of those films was the Wagnerian mini epic, What’s Opera, Doc? which in 1992 was inducted into the National Film Registry for being "among the most culturally, historically and aesthetically significant films of our time."

In recent years, Jones’ work has been honored at film festivals and museums throughout the world, including a one-man retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. His autobiography, Chuck Amuck, appeared in 1989, now in its fifth printing. Chuck Reducks, his follow-up to the first book, was published two years later.

Two years ago, Jones established the Chuck Jones Foundation, designed to recognize, support and inspire continued excellence in the art of classic character animation. Plans for the Foundation include scholarships, library resources, touring exhibits, access to film, notes and drawings.

Director Peter Bogdanovich once explained the enduring appeal of Jones’ work: "It remains, like all good fables and only the best art, both timeless and universal."

Jones is survived by his wife, Marian, daughter Linda (by his first wife, Dorothy Webster), brother Richard Kent Jones, three grandchildren Todd Kausen, Craig Kausen and Valerie Ericsen, and six great-grandchildren, Alex, Brittany, Charley, Jessica, Jake, and Jamie Kausen, as well as by the daughter Rosalin Bellante, son, Peter Dern, and three grandsons, Jason, Scott, and Kevin Bohrer of his wife (by her previous marriage).

A memorial event will be held in Newport Beach at a later date. Private services will be held for family only. In lieu of flowers, contribution may be made in the name of Chuck Jones to the Motion Picture & Television Fund (address) or to the Chuck Jones Foundation.

Motion Picture & Television Fund
22212 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 300
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
(800) 876-8320

The Chuck Jones Foundation
P.O. Box 2319
Costa Mesa, CA 92628-2319
(949) 660-7791