MANILA, Philippines – J. Michael Mendel, an Emmy-award winning producer of animations including The Simpsons and Rick and Morty, has died at age 54.
Adult Swim, the late-night programming block that carries Rick and Morty, released a statement on Mendel’s death on Twitter, saying they were “devastated” by the producer’s “untimely passing.”
“He guided and supported a generation of artists, writers and creators and his absence will be felt by the entire community,” they said.
— [adult swim] (@adultswim) September 24, 2019
Rick and Morty co-creator and voice artist Justin Roiland also tweeted about Mendel’s death, saying “My friend, partner, and line producer Mike Mendel passed away. I am devastated. My heart breaks for his family.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you by my side Mike. I’m destroyed,” he said.
My friend, partner, and line producer Mike Mendel passed away. I am devastated. My heart breaks for his family. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you by my side Mike. I’m destroyed.
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) September 23, 2019
Mendel has won 3 Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons, and earned one Emmy for Rick and Morty, on which he worked as a line producer.
He has also worked on films such as Big and Jerry Maguire, as well as animations such as The Critic,The Oblongs, and Napoleon Dynamite. – Rappler.com