View source for Lee Gunther

{{Short description|American film editor}}
{{Ref improve|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lee Gunther
| image              =
| imagesize          =
| caption            =
| birth_name         =
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1935|5|30|mf=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Los Angeles County, California]], United States
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1998|8|25|1935|5|30}}
| death_place        = [[Woodland Hills, California]], United States
| occupation         = Film editor, co-founder
| yearsactive        = 1963–1998
| spouse             =
}}
'''Lee Gunther''' (May 30, 1935 – August 25, 1998) was a co-founder of [[Marvel Productions]] and a [[film editor]] (which, in animation parlance, means [[sound effect]]s editor) on more than 85 [[animated short]]s in all.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/news/lee-gunther-passes-away|title=Lee Gunther Passes Away|website=[[Animation World Network]]}}</ref>
== Career ==
Starting at [[Warner Bros.]] in the 1960s, and then at [[DePatie–Freleng Enterprises]], he also worked as a production manager in the 1970s. After DePatie–Freleng was sold to [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comics Group]] in 1981, Gunther became one of the founders of [[Marvel Productions|Marvel Productions Ltd.]], where he served as executive [[vice president]] and [[executive producer]] on television series such as ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'', ''[[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983 TV series)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[The Transformers (TV series)|The Transformers]]'', as well as the feature-length animation ''[[Inhumanoids: The Movie]]''. He also served as vice president of foreign production at [[Fox Kids]].
In late 1987, he co-founded Gunther-Wahl Productions with Michael Wahl. Their first task was taking over production of ''[[Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983 TV series)|Alvin and the Chipmunks]]'' from [[Ruby-Spears|Ruby-Spears Productions]] in 1988, including the ''Go To the Movies'' series. He then served as executive producer of the animated series ''[[The Angry Beavers]]'' for [[Nickelodeon]] from 1997 to 2001 and ''[[Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa]]'' for Greengrass Productions on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in 1992. He and Wahl also created ''[[The Adventures of T-Rex]]'' in 1992-1993, shortly after the Mattel Flutter Faeries lawsuit in which his partner Wahl and his wife were involved.
Other productions by Gunther-Wahl included the animated adaptation of ''Karate Kid'' for [[Coca-Cola Telecommunications]] (now [[Sony Pictures Television]]) on [[NBC]] in 1989, and also the short-lived ''G.I. Joe'' animated series from 1990 to 1992 (the preceding ''Operation Dragonfire'' five-part mini-series was produced by [[DIC Entertainment]]), as well as ''[[G.I. Joe Extreme#Animated series|G.I. Joe Extreme]]'' (with [[Sunbow Entertainment]] and [[Graz Entertainment]] from 1995 to 1997), and the cartoon ''Red Planet'' in 1994.
In his lifetime, Gunther earned four [[Emmy award]]s, two [[Humanitas Prize]]s, two [[Golden Reel Award (Motion Picture Sound Editors)|Golden Reel Award]]s and 12 [[Clio award]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.7/3.7pages/3.7inpassing.html|title=Animation World News - In Passing|website=www.awn.com|accessdate=10 April 2024}}</ref>
== Death ==
Gunther died of a [[stroke]] on August 25, 1998, at age 63. Long-time friend and colleague George Conte, who worked for Murakami-Wolf-Swenson and [[Fred Wolf Films]], and who first met Gunther at DePatie–Freleng, said, "Lee's dedication to quality filmmaking, both technically and creatively placed him at the top of his profession. Because of his strong character and gentle ways, he was respected and loved by all who knew him. He will be missed."{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0348383}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunther, Lee}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:American film editors]]