Mendel gave us one of the most iconic animated series of all times.
J. Michael Mendel who is well-known for producing some of the most iconic animation series, like ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Rick and Morty’, is no more. The four-time Emmy winner was just 54. His work produced fans all thanks to the timeless animation. Animation that is not bounded by age.
The Simpsons producer dies at 54
Mendel started working on the famous Adult Swim series Rick and Morty when it launched in 2013. A spokesperson for Adult Swim confirmed he animation producer’s death in a statement:
“All of us at Adult Swim are devastated by the untimely passing of Mike Mendel. Mike was the heart of the ‘Rick and Morty’ production family, his fantastic talent and wit will be sorely missed.” Furthermore, the statement read, “Mike was a universally respected Emmy-winning producer with over 25 years in the industry, who guided and supported a generation of artists, writers, and creators. And his absence will be felt by the entire community. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
Later, a tweet on the official handle of Adult Swim forwarded condolences to Mendel’s family.
Not only this but “Rick and Morty” co-creator, Justin Roiland, too, offered his condolences in a tweet. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you by my side Mike. I’m destroyed”
The Simpsons Producer
J Michael Mendel boarded ‘The Simpsons’ train in 1989 after he left ‘The Tracy Ullman’ show. Subsequently, over the next decade, Mendel produced 207 episodes and bagged three consecutive Emmys (1995, 1997, 1998). But his fourth Emmy was very recent. It was in 2018 that he grabbed the prestigious award for ‘Rick and Morty’ after four years with the show
Born on Sept. 24, 1964, Michael Mendel graduated from Syracuse University. But before he became a part of major projects like ‘Big’ and ‘Jerry Maguire,’ he served as a production assistant on ‘Broadcast News’. Mendel is survived by his wife, who is also an Emmy winner and casting director, Juel Bestrop.
