Animation producer J. Michael Mendel, who worked on the popular cartoons The Simpsons and Rick and Morty, has died at age 54.
A spokesperson for Adult Swim, the networks that air Rick and Morty, said they were "devastated by the untimely passing" of the four-time Emmy award-winner.
"Mike was the heart of the 'Rick and Morty' production family, his fantastic talent and wit will be sorely missed," they wrote.
![Between 1989-1999, Mendel held producer credits on 207 episodes and won three Emmys almost consecutively in 1995, '97, and '98.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/DR3UZWHKRVBFVYOZTLTCQWAFXQ.jpg?auth=1a4e971a0031f997a184b8a01995e635f5621ebd92162949cf19001476335fde&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)
"Mike was a universally respected Emmy-winning producer with over 25 years in the industry, who guided and supported a generation of artists, writers and creators and his absence will be felt by the entire community.