Barry Caldwell, Animaniacs & Osmosis Jones, Dies 68
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- Barry Caldwell died at age 68, as confirmed by a Facebook post from colleague Paul Dini.
- Paul Dini announced Caldwell’s death after being informed by animator Dan Haskett and praised his talent, generosity, and deep cartoon knowledge.
- Barry Caldwell began his animation career in 1980 with an episode of “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.”
- Barry Caldwell contributed as storyboard artist to numerous 1980s TV series, including “The New Adventures of Zorro,” “Blackstar,” “The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show,” “He‑Man and the Masters of the Universe,” “The Smurfs,” and “Alvin & the Chipmunks.”
- Barry Caldwell worked on early 2000s animated series such as “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Kim Possible.”
- Barry Caldwell served as director or artist on feature films like “Osmosis Jones” (2001), “The Tigger Movie,” “Mulan II,” and “Curious George.”
- Barry Caldwell was born June 19 1957 in New York City, attended the School of Visual Arts, and later worked at Warner Bros. Animation, Walt Disney Television Studios, and DreamWorks.
Why it matters: The animation industry loses a veteran creator whose talent shaped iconic shows from the 1980s to the 2000s, and peers such as Paul Dini lose a generous mentor and collaborator, underscoring a personal and creative void across studios that benefited from his work.
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