Arthur Rankin Jr.

Arthur Rankin Jr.
Born
Arthur Gardner Rankin Jr.

(1924-07-19)July 19, 1924
DiedJanuary 30, 2014(2014-01-30) (aged 89)
Occupations
  • Director
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1940s–1999
Spouses
Elizabeth Shuldiner
(m. 1947)
    (m. 1983)
    Children2
    Parent(s)Arthur Rankin
    Marian Mansfield
    RelativesHarry Davenport (grandfather)
    Phyllis Rankin (grandmother)
    Sidney Rankin Drew
    (first cousin once removed)
    Signature

    Arthur Gardner Rankin Jr. (July 19, 1924 – January 30, 2014) was an American director, producer and screenwriter, who mostly worked in animation. Co-creator of Rankin/Bass Productions with his friend Jules Bass, he created stop-motion and traditional animation features such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, and the 1977 cartoon special of The Hobbit. He is credited on over 1,000 television programs.