Jules Bass, producer of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ TV Specials, died in Rye on Tuesday, where he lived at The Osborn home. He was 87 and passed from an age related illness.
Bass’ passing was widely reported in entertainment and Hollywood circles and confirmed by his publicist Jennifer Ruff.
From Variety: “The three prominent holiday specials, “Rudolph,” voiced by Burl Ives, “Frosty” starring Jackie Vernon and Jimmy Durante and “Santa Claus,” voiced by Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, all debuted during the 1960s and 1970s. In the decades since, the specials have become staples of seasonal holiday programming on television.
Bass was known for his longstanding creative partnership with director Arthur Rankin Jr., who died in 2014 at 89. The two pushed many productions through their banner Rankin/Bass Productions, which was known for its laborious cel-animated, stop-motion films that took long periods of time to turn into full-length features.”
See related reporting on Bass’ passing:
- The Hollywood Reporter – Jules Bass, Producer Behind the ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ TV Specials, Dies at 87
- Variety – Jules Bass, Producer and Director Known for ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ Dies at 87
- People – ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’ Director Jules Bass Dead at 87
Watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
