- Born
- Died
- Birth nameCharles Martin Jones
- Nicknames
- Chuck
- The Father of Contemporary Animation
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Starting as a cel washer, Chuck Jones worked his way up to animator and
then director at the animation division of Warner Bros. He is famous
for creating such beloved cartoon characters as Wile E. Coyote, Henery
Hawk, Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Ralph Wolf, Road Runner, Sam
Sheepdog, Sniffles, and many others, as well as adding to the
development of Warner favorites such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky
Pig and countless others.
His most famous cartoons tend to have been created with writer Michael Maltese.
Jones' autobiography, published by Simon & Schuster "Chuck Amuck"--a
pun on his Daffy Duck short Duck Amuck (1953)--gives a very amusing account of
his life. It is liberally sprinkled with hundreds of cartoons with some
color plates.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Chuck Jones
- SpousesMarian Dern(January 14, 1983 - February 22, 2002) (his death)Dorothy Jones(January 31, 1935 - February 28, 1978) (her death, 1 child)
- Children
- ParentsCharles Adams JonesMabel McQuiddy Martin
- RelativesRichard Kent Jones(Sibling)
- Characters created by Jones: Pepe le Pew, Hubie and Bertie, Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, and Claude Cat, among others.
- Always wore a bow-tie in interviews and appearences
- Espressive facial gestures of his characters
- Often did a cameo with his name and crew (mainly writers and storyboard artists names) in Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoon shorts directed by himself.
- Sometimes has characters dress in costumes that they can't take off.
- At 85, he signed a long-term contract with Warner Bros. to supervise
the animation department. His thoughts on the contract were: "At 85 you
can only think ahead for the next 50 years or so". - He has directed three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Duck Amuck (1953), One Froggy Evening (1955) and What's Opera, Doc? (1957).
- Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7011 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California on 2/13/95.
- Close friends with Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss of "The Cat in the Hat" fame).
- Had been close friends with Ray Bradbury for more than 50 years.
- Animation isn't the illusion of life; it is life!
- [on one of his most famous characters, Wile E. Coyote] The coyote is victimized by his
own ineptitude. I never understood how to use tools and that's really
the coyote's problem. - [about animation] I don't think it has to be realistic. It just has to
be believable. - If you want to draw Bugs Bunny, just learn to draw a carrot and hook a
rabbit on to it. - [on Wile E. Coyote] I think he's a heroic character. I admire him because he keeps trying
all the time. Also, it's legitimate -- he is just trying to get
something to eat. Evidence of logic is vital to comedy. You must
believe it or you can't laugh at it. The Coyote and the Road Runner are
the only two alive out there. There was a drought or famine. The Road
Runner, who lives on insects, probably didn't have to leave during the
drought. The coyote starts out after him because there's nothing left
and by the time that others return the coyote has become a fanatic.
That fanaticism is more vital to him -- and us -- than any present
need. We all pursue hopeless goals at times, don't we?
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