Category: In Passing

Carol Lundberg, who worked for such studios as Filmation Assoc., Marvel Prods., Hanna-Barbera Studios and Hyperion Pictures, died on Feb. 11, 2007, reports THE BIG CARTOON DATABASE. She was 72.

In 1969, Lundberg began work as a layout artist for Filmation, where she worked until 1981. Her Filmation layout credits included: STAR TREK (1973), THE SECRET LIVES OF WALDO KITTY (1975), THE NEW ADVENTURES OF BATMAN (1977), THE YOUNG SENTINELS (1977), THE FAT ALBERT CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (1977) and THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON (1979).

Michel M. Grilikhes -- producer of the first primetime cartoon series, CBS CARTOON THEATER -- died March 9, 2007, in Los Angeles of kidney failure, reports THE BIG CARTOON DATABASE. He was 83 years old.

CBS Cartoon Theater only aired one year -- 1956 -- and was hosted by Dick Van Dyke. The series was comprised mainly of Terrytoons. In some episodes, Van Dyke would interact with some of his cartoon guests.

Comedian Richard Jeni, who made more appearances on THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO than any other comic, died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, reports various news outlet. He was taken to the hospital in Los Angeles after a 911 call where he died of his injuries. He was 45.

Walker Edmiston, a veteran voice actor, died on Feb. 15, 2007, at a Woodland Hills, California hospital, according to the Big Cartoon Database. He was 81 years old.

Edmiston may be best known for taking over the role of Beany on Bob Clampett's original TIME FOR BEANY after Daws Butler left the puppet show. He would later host his own puppet show, THE WALKER EDMISTON SHOW, for Los Angeles' KTLA.

U.K. based producer Dick Arnall, who produced Robert Bradbrook's multi-award winning HOME ROAD MOVIES and helped start the animate! scheme, died on Feb. 6, 2007. His other producing credits included Ruth Lingford's DEATH AND THE MOTHER (1988), Lizzie Oxby's EXTN. 21 (2002), Run Wrake's RABBIT (2005) and Jo Ann Kaplan's ANATOMY OF MELANCHOLY (2006). He was nominated for two BAFTA awards for his work on HOME ROAD MOVIES as well as Tim Webb's A IS FOR AUTISM (1992).

Special effects wizard "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, who was known widely for his pedal steel guitar work with Gram Parsons and The Flying Burrito Brothers, died on Saturday morning (Jan. 6, 2007), from complications brought on by Alzheimer's disease in a nursing facility in Petaluma, California. He was 72.

His daughter Anita confirmed his death saying that he had been living with the disease for more than 18 months and it "hit him hard and fast."

Independent filmmaker, Helen Hill, was shot to death in her New Orleans home on Jan. 4, 2007, reports ASSOCIATED PRESS. Hill's husband, physician Dr. Paul Gailiunas, was also injured in the attack. The couple had moved to the Faubourg Marigny area following the destruction of their home in the Mid-City section of the city as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Police report that both were shot at their front door at approximately 5:30 am. No other details were made available.

Shirley Walker, Emmy-winning composer and orchestrator, passed away on Nov. 30, 2006, reports THE L.A. TIMES. She was 61. Walker died from complications after a stroke in Reno, Nevada.

As a woman, Walker stood out in the world of movie composing, where females number less than 5%.

She won her two Emmys for her work as music director on THE ADVENTURES OF BATMAN & ROBIN in 1996 and BATMAN BEYOND in 2001. She made her first foray into scoring for animation on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES.

Actor Anthony Jackson, who provided many voices for Britain's IVOR THE ENGINE animated series, died Nov. 26, 2006, in London of cancer, according to the Big Cartoon Database. He was 62.

Born in Birmingham on Feb. 18, 1944, Jackson voiced Dai Station, Evans the Song and Mr. Dinwiddy on IVOR THE ENGINE, which debuted with six episodes in 1958. He reprised the same roles when the series was remade in color in 1975.