Richard Williams, the acclaimed animator behind Who Framed Roger Rabbit? has died, aged 86.
Williams was a triple Oscar and triple Bafta winner and had worked on a wide range of films including Casino Royale (1967), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975) and The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976).
A statement released by Williams’ family announced that he died on Friday (August 16) at his home in St Andrews, Bristol, following a battle with cancer.
“He really was an inspiration to everyone that met him,” Ms Sutton Williams, one of the animator’s six children said. She added: “Whether they were animators, or from the top to the bottom of society.”
Ms Williams also described her father as “an incredibly generous, warm-spirited person who really wanted to learn about the world.”
The 86-year-old told the BBC in 2008 that Snow White – a film he saw at the age of five – had a huge impact on his career choice.
“I always wanted, when I was a kid, to get to Disney. I was a clever little fellow so I took my drawings and I eventually got in,” Williams said. “They did a story on me, and I was in there for two days, which you can imagine what it was like for a kid.”
You can read some of the tributes to the animator below:
Today the animation world mourns the loss of a great man. Director, animator, teacher and friend Richard Williams. Your films and teachings will live on forever. You will be missed Mr. Williams. Rest in Peace Mr. Williams. (1933-2019) https://t.co/3zoLi9fJml pic.twitter.com/dWJoGF7ifF
— TraditionalAnimation (@Traditional2D) August 17, 2019
Also to mention is that he created possibly the most influential and widely-utilized animation book in history
The sheer amount of artists and animators who were jump-started because of his work is impossible to count
— RagTag (@ragtagstuff) August 17, 2019
Richard Williams, an animator deserving of the title "legendary".
Roger Rabbit is one my fave movies, owing to his incredible skill & direction. He was nearly fired by Disney multiple times but the team fought hard & it paid off, setting the standard for all hybrid movies since pic.twitter.com/kMayvjCpzp— Eddie Bowley (@Eddache_) August 17, 2019
RIP Richard Williams.
Generations will continue to marvel and be inspired by your work and your love for animation.— Eddie Bowley (@Eddache_) August 17, 2019
There are very few people that we can officially call a Master Animator. Richard Williams was one of them who had improved the medium in unbelievable ways like with Roger Rabbit and The Thief. He will be remembered not as an animator, but as an innovator. #RIPRichardWilliams pic.twitter.com/SfJOG056xU
— Mat Brunet (AniMat) (@AniMat505) August 17, 2019
Farewell master animator Richard Williams. These title sequences meant a lot to me as a child. They still do. https://t.co/0RVBIo6tD0
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) August 17, 2019
Rest In Peace, Richard Williams. Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/5WhdBO8b2w
— Brian Lynch (@BrianLynch) August 17, 2019
Williams’ first film, The Little Island, won a Bafta upon its release in 1958. His first Oscar win came following his animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1971.
Williams also wrote an an acclaimed book, The Animator’s Survival Kit and continued to animate and write until his death.