Robert Taylor, director of ‘Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat,’ dies at 70Reuters
By: Lisa Schulz
December 15, 2014
LOS ANGELES — Robert “Bob” Taylor, an award-winning animator, producer and director best-known for animated TV series, including “Talespin,” and animated films, such as “The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat,” died Dec. 11 in Woodland Hills of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 70.
Born in Boston, Taylor began his career in animation in 1966 at Terrytoons in New York with Ralph Bakshi. He worked on Bakshi’s X-rated animated feature “Fritz the Cat,” and in 1974 directed sequel “The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat,” which played in competition in Cannes. He also worked with Bakshi as an animator on “Heavy Traffic,” “Coonskin” and “Wizards.”
Taylor went on to direct the animated film “Heidi’s Song” in 1982 and animated TV series, including Emmy award-winning “TaleSpin,” “Goof Troop,” “The Flintstone Kids” and “Challenge of the GoBots.” Though he was uncredited, it was well-known that Taylor was the co-director of Hanna-Barbera’s “Rock Odyssey,” which traced American history through a talking jukebox and was shelved for its graphic content.
After retirement, Taylor became an accomplished jazz guitarist. His son, Scott, followed his musical path as a composer for TV and film and lives in Joshua Tree, California.
Taylor is survived by five children, including his son and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Oakwood Cemetery chapel in Chatsworth, California.
TAYLOR, Robert
Born: 1944m Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Died: 12/11/2014, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.A.
Robert Taylor’s western – animator:
The Good, the Bad, and Huckleberry Hound (TV) - 1988