Jules Bass, 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town' director, dead at 87
Bass directed holiday specials alongside the late Arthur Rankin Jr.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jules Bass, the "Frosty the Snowman" and "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town" director, died on Tuesday. He was 87.
Bass’ rep, Jennifer Ruff, confirmed his passing to Fox News Digital. She cited age related illness as his cause of death.
Bass’ producing partner on the hit holiday classics, Arthur Rankin Jr., died in 2014 at 89.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The duo also produced "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1964, "The Little Drummer Boy" in 1968, "The Year Without Santa Claus" in 1974 and "Jack Frost" in 1979.
A still frame from the animated television Christmas special, "Frosty The Snowman," depicting Karen riding on Frosty's back, 1969. (Photo by CBS/Courtesy of Getty Images)
‘RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER,' CHARLIE BROWN AND OTHER HOLIDAY CLASSICS SPARKING CONTROVERSY
Jules Bass produced holiday specials including "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Aside from the holiday genre, the pair worked together on the animated adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" in 1977 and again in 1982 for "The Last Unicorn."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bass did not stop at directing. He wrote the novel "Headhunters" in 2001, which was later adapted to the movie "Monte Carlo" starring Selena Gomez, Katie Cassidy, Leighton Meester and Cory Monteith.
Following his directing career, Bass went on to author children's books.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jean Nicole Bass, according to Variety. She died at the age of 61.
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