Jules Bass, co-creator and co-director of animated classics such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “The Last Unicorn,” died Tuesday of age-related illness in an assisted living facility . Rye, New York, his publicist confirmed to TheWrap. He was 87 years old.
Through their banner Rankin/Bass, Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. (who died in 2014) created some of the most beloved children’s programming of all time, including the stop-motion classics “Rudolph” (1964), “Santa Claus Is Comin'”. ‘ Town” (1970), and “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (1974). Bass also wrote several iconic songs, including The Charming Showstopper of Heat Mizar and Snow Mizar And “put one foot in front of the other” with composer/conductor Maura Laws.
Bass in 1967’s “Mad Monster Party?” Also produced and directed. Starring Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller.
Rankin/Bass’s hand-crafted projects include the 1969 holiday special “Frosty the Snowman”, the Peabody-winning TV film “The Hobbit” (1977), and its sequel, “The Return of the King” (1980), and Feature films included. “The Last Unicorn” (1982).
After Bass retired from filmmaking, he began writing children’s books, including “Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon”.
Their daughter, Jean Nicole Bass, died in January at the age of 61.