Alex Johns, 43, died Saturday, Aug. 7 at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles after a long illness.
Born Aug. 23, 1966 in Roseville, CA, he graduated from Escalon High School in 1984. He was a distinguished producer of animated entertainment for television and films and served as co-executive producer of the Warner Brothers hit film, "The Ant Bully," and co-produced more than 70 episodes of the television cult favorite, Futurama, working closely with the show's creator, Matt Groening.
The entertainment business was in his DNA. He was the grandson of the actor Steve Cochran, who starred in the 1949 gangster classic, "White Heat," and many other films.
After attending San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego, Johns gravitated toward the movies. He got his start in the late 1980s colorizing classic films. In the 1990s, he worked in production for "The Ren and Stimpy Show," then moved over to Futurama. Groening also tapped Johns for a key role in producing "Olive, the Other Reindeer," a 45-minute Christmas television special.
Survivors include his mother, Xandria Walker of Valley Springs; his brothers, David Cimino of Mountain Home, ID, Michael Johns of Stockton, Christopher Johns of Salt Lake City, UT and Daniel Johns of Topanga Canyon.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wendell Johns.
Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 18, 2010
Born Aug. 23, 1966 in Roseville, CA, he graduated from Escalon High School in 1984. He was a distinguished producer of animated entertainment for television and films and served as co-executive producer of the Warner Brothers hit film, "The Ant Bully," and co-produced more than 70 episodes of the television cult favorite, Futurama, working closely with the show's creator, Matt Groening.
The entertainment business was in his DNA. He was the grandson of the actor Steve Cochran, who starred in the 1949 gangster classic, "White Heat," and many other films.
After attending San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego, Johns gravitated toward the movies. He got his start in the late 1980s colorizing classic films. In the 1990s, he worked in production for "The Ren and Stimpy Show," then moved over to Futurama. Groening also tapped Johns for a key role in producing "Olive, the Other Reindeer," a 45-minute Christmas television special.
Survivors include his mother, Xandria Walker of Valley Springs; his brothers, David Cimino of Mountain Home, ID, Michael Johns of Stockton, Christopher Johns of Salt Lake City, UT and Daniel Johns of Topanga Canyon.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wendell Johns.
Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 18, 2010
