Tuck Tucker, an animator, and storyboard director best known for his work on SpongeBob SquarePants and Hey Arnold!, died at the age of 59.
Variety notes that his family posted a post on Facebook, announcing that he passed away on 22 December. There was no cause of death given.
“It is with a heavy and broken heart that the Tucker family announces the death of Tuck Tucker, father, husband, son, brother, and uncle. We know he was loved by all of those whom he met,” his family said.
Born William Osborne Tucker III on 20 August 1961, Tucker got his first work as a Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night breakdown artist in 1987.
The Little Mermaid in 1989, the television series Rugrats, and several episodes of The Simpsons in 1996 were among his other early credits. He was the storyboard artist for 25 episodes of Hey Arnold! between 1996 and 1999. Going on to direct the film version of the show in 2002, and working on more episodes from 1999 to 2004.
He has worked on hundreds of episodes of the hit SpongeBob SquarePants series and collaborated on SpongeBob SquarePants The Movie in 2004 as a storyboard artist as well.
Among those who paid tribute to Tucker, posting on Instagram, was producer Craig Bartlett: “A great friend, a master draftsman, a tireless practical joker, a brilliant storyteller, the first one I reached out to when I began Hey Arnold! because he was the best board guy I had ever met.
“I’ll always remember him at his drawing board, arms blackened to the elbows with graphite, eraser shavings everywhere, bringing my characters to life. A killer work ethic, passionately into it. I’m so lucky I got to work with him for so many years.”
Source: Independent