Rusty Mills
{{Short description|American animator, director and producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rusty Mills
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Russell P. Mills
| birth_date = {{birth_date|1962|12|16}}
| birth_place = Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death_date and age|2012|12|7|1962|12|16}}
| death_place = California, U.S.
| occupation = Animator, director, producer
| years_active = 1980–2012
| spouse = Andrea Mills
| children = 1
| parents =
}}
Russell P. "Rusty" Mills (c. December 16, 1962 – December 7, 2012) was an American animator, director and producer. A Primetime Emmy winner, Mills was best known for his work with Warner Bros. Animation, including Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Pinky and the Brain.{{cite news|title=Rusty Mills, director on Warner animated series, dies at 49 - Credits include 'Animaniacs,' 'Pinky and the Brain' |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118063382/ |work=Variety |date=2012-12-10 |access-date=2012-12-31}}{{cite news|first=Melissa|last=Hall|title=Rusty Mills, film animator, dies at 49 |url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/elections/local/article_cae3a648-41ba-11e2-bb54-001a4bcf6878.html |work=Winston-Salem Journal |date=2012-12-08 |access-date=2012-12-31}} Mills was a five time Emmy winner, receiving one Primetime Emmy and four Daytime Emmy awards.
Early life and career
Mills, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts high school in 1980. He then completed his studies at California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles after high school. He worked as a freelance animator following college before joining Warner Bros. Animation, where he worked for approximately ten years. His production credits with Warner Bros. included Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs, which he worked on directly with Steven Spielberg one of the show's producers.
In 1996, Mills won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas," a Christmas episode of the animated television series, Pinky and the Brain, which aired in December 1995. Mills had directed that particular holiday episode of the series. During his career, Mills also won four Daytime Emmys and received eight Emmy nominations.
Mills' additional television animated credits included Garfield's Thanksgiving in 1989, Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, Pink Panther and Pals, and The Replacements. His last credited work was for the 2011 animated television special, A Very Pink Christmas, with the Pink Panther.
Death
Mills died from colon cancer on December 7, 2012, at the age of 49.{{Cite web |title=Animator Rusty Mills Dies at 49 |url=https://www.awn.com/news/animator-rusty-mills-dies-49 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Animation World Network |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Animation Veteran Rusty Mills Dies at 49 |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2012/12/animation-veteran-rusty-mills-dies-at-49/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Animation Magazine}}{{Cite web |last=Beck |first=Jerry |date=2012-12-08 |title=Rusty Mills, RIP |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/animators/rusty-mills-rip-74001.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Cartoon Brew |language=en-US}} He is survived by his wife, Andrea; son, Evan; his mother, Janet Mills; and sister, Linda Hough.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0589278|name=Rusty Mills}}
[https://www.awn.com/blog/wiala-joins-community-help-rusty-mills WIA/LA Joins Community To Help Rusty Mills]
{{Annie Award for Storyboarding in a Feature Production}}
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Category:American animated film directors
Category:American animated film producers
Category:American television directors
Category:American television producers
Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners
Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners
Category:Deaths from colorectal cancer in California
Category:California Institute of the Arts alumni
Category:University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni