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David H. DePatie

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David H. DePatie
Born
David Hudson DePatie

(1929-12-24)December 24, 1929[1]
Los Angeles,California,U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 2021(2021-09-23)(aged 91)[2]
Gig Harbor,Washington,U.S.
Occupation(s)Producer, businessman (founder ofDFEandMarvel Productions)
Years active1957–1985
Children3 (including David Jr and Steve)[3]
Signature

David Hudson DePatie(/dəˈpæti/;[4]December 24, 1929 – September 23, 2021) was an American film and television producer who was the last and longest lived executive in charge of the originalWarner Bros. Cartoonsstudio. He also formedDePatie–Freleng Enterprises,withFriz Freleng,Hanna-Barbera Productionsand was an executive producer atMarvel Productions.[5]

Early life

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DePatie was born onChristmas Eve1929, atThe Good Samaritan Hospitalin Los Angeles. His father,Edmond L. DePatie,was the head of the counter department at Warner Bros, and he would spend his entire career at Warner, and later became executive vice president and general manager of the studio, reporting only toJack Warner.Because of this, David, in his own words, became a "Warner Brat".[1]

Career

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Warner Bros. Cartoons

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Leon Schlesingerwas the production executive ofLeon Schlesinger Productionsuntil his retirement in 1944 whenWarner Bros.bought the animation department and renamed it toWarner Bros. Cartoons,Inc.Eddie Selzerthen became the production executive until 1958.[6][1]John W. Burtonthen became producer for a few years until Burton accepted a position of another company that Leon Schlesinger founded calledPacific Title and Art.DePatie became production executive in 1960, taking over for Burton. The first thing he produced for the studio was a 1963 pilot namedPhilbertand it was directed by Friz Freleng, but was never picked up, and was the last cartoon produced by the company.[1][7][8]

In 1962, with the decline in moviegoing, DePatie was informed that the cartoon studio was going to be shut down. Shortly afterwards when Warner Bros. Cartoons closed down in 1963, significant production changes occurred for new Warner Bros. cartoons produced by the newly formedDePatie–Freleng Enterprises.DePatie received on-screen production credit and cartoon directorFriz Frelengwas promoted to producer.[9]Chuck Jonesleft forTom and Jerrytheatricals and television adaptations.[10]Character appearances were limited toDaffy Duck,Sylvester the Cat,Speedy Gonzales,andWile E. Coyote and the Road Runner,with one time appearances ofGranny,Porky Pig,The Goofy Gophers,andWitch Hazel.[11]Production was subcontracted toFormat Films.[12]

DePatie–Freleng Enterprises

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While he held his production position at Warner Bros., DePatie originally received no on-screen credit, similar to his two predecessors after Leon Schlesinger retired in 1944. In 1963, he began to receive on-screen credit with new producer (and former director)Friz Freleng.Around this time, they formedDePatie–Freleng Enterprises,also known as DePatie–Freleng Entertainment, and known on-screen as "DFE Films". Due to the success of the Pink Panther shorts, or in Art Leonardi's words the "Pink Power", they made title sequences for various TV shows, includingI Dream of Jeannieand various commercials.[11][13]

The Pink Panther

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DePatie and Freleng animated opening segments for some ofPink Pantherfeature films. In these, a Pink Panther appeared in the opening credits as the villain. Music was scored byHenry Mancini.The characterwould appear in many animated shortsof his own(no longer as the villain) due to his critical acclaim in the title sequence, also produced by DePatie–Freleng.[11]When these shorts aired on television, they were paired with backup segments. Music was composed byWilliam Lava,Walter Greene,Doug Goodwin and David DePatie's son Steve DePatie. These cartoons were directed by many people includingArthur Davis,Robert McKimson,Hawley Pratt,andGerry Chiniquy.[14][15]

Dr. Seuss television specials

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Chuck Jones was producing Dr. Seuss specials forMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer,until MGM shut down itsanimation studio.DePatie–Freleng picked up production ofThe Cat in the Hat.[11][16]Music was composed byDean Elliottfor four Dr. Seuss specials,Hawley Prattdirected three specials, andMaurice Noblewas production designer for three specials. Chuck Jones co-produced withTed Geiselwhile DePatie and Freleng were executive producers forThe Cat in the Hatonly. Since Jones wasworking forABC,he stopped working on Dr. Seuss specials. Freleng and Ted Geisel became producer but were credited separately. DePatie was the only one credited as executive producer. Music was scored byJoe Raposofor three later specials. DePatie–Freleng's last Dr. Seuss special wasThe Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat,which was around the time that DFE became part ofCadence Industries,and rebranded asMarvel Productions.[17]

Marvel Productions

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DePatie and some of his production staff worked for Marvel Productions. He was an executive producer.[18]He left the company in 1984, and then briefly worked forHanna-Barbera,producingPink Panther and Sons,before retiring.[19]

Death

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DePatie died of natural causes inGig Harbor, Washington,on September 23, 2021, at age 91.[20]

References

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  1. ^abcdArnold pg. 27-31
  2. ^DAVID DEPATIE – Obituary – Seattle Times
  3. ^On The TV Scene
  4. ^"David Depatie interview - Depatie Freleng"
  5. ^Wit, Alex Dudok de (October 14, 2021)."RIP David H. DePatie, 'Pink Panther' Producer And Marvel Productions Head".Cartoon Brew.RetrievedJune 16,2024.
  6. ^"The Life and Death of Looney Tunes Producers: Schlesinger and Selzer".Cartoon Research. March 8, 2013.RetrievedDecember 19,2016.
  7. ^Warner Club News (1960) Part 1
  8. ^Beck, Jerry."Philbert (1963)".Cartoon Brew.RetrievedJune 29,2020.
  9. ^Baxter, Devon (July 20, 2011)."Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of Looney Tunes – Video Dailymotion".Dailymotion.RetrievedDecember 19,2016.
  10. ^Chuck Jones "Tom & Jerry" in 1965–66
  11. ^abcdBeck, Jerry(October 13, 2021)."David H. DePatie (1929–2021)".Cartoon Research.RetrievedOctober 13,2021.
  12. ^The Last Warner Bros. Cartoons
  13. ^Ehrbar, Greg (May 25, 2021)."Tracking the Many Sides of The Pink Panther".Cartoon Research.RetrievedOctober 13,2021.
  14. ^Bullard, Jim (October 6, 2005)."Devilishly popular, those cartoons".
  15. ^Don Markstein's Toonpedia: The Pink Panther
  16. ^Lyons, Michael (March 5, 2021)."Rhyme Time TV: The 50th Anniversary of the Television Special," The Cat in the Hat "".Animation Scoop.RetrievedOctober 13,2021.
  17. ^A History of Marvel Productions
  18. ^"DePATIE, David H."ASIFA-Hollywood Cartoon Hall Of Fame.The International Animated Film Society: ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2011.RetrievedMay 17,2012.
  19. ^Milligan, Mercedes (October 13, 2021)."Oscar-Winning Producer David DePatie Dies Age 91".Animation Magazine.RetrievedOctober 15,2021.
  20. ^"David H. DePatie Dies: 'The Pink Panther' Cartoon Co-Creator & Producer Was 91".Deadline Hollywood.October 14, 2021.RetrievedOctober 21,2021.
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