| Rusty Mills | |
| Birth Name: | Russell P. Mills |
| Birth Place: | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Death Place: | California, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Animator, director, producer |
| Years Active: | 1980–2012 |
| Spouse: | Andrea Mills |
| Children: | 1 |
Russell P. "Rusty" Mills (c. December 16, 1962 – December 7, 2012) was an American animator, director and producer. A Primetime Emmy winner, Mills was best known for his work with Warner Bros. Animation, including Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, and Pinky and the Brain.[1] [2] Mills was a five time Emmy winner, receiving one Primetime Emmy and four Daytime Emmy awards.[1] [2]
Mills, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts high school in 1980.[2] He then completed his studies at California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles after high school.[1] [2] He worked as a freelance animator following college before joining Warner Bros. Animation, where he worked for approximately ten years.[2] His production credits with Warner Bros. included Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs, which he worked on directly with Steven Spielberg one of the show's producers.[2]
In 1996, Mills won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas," a Christmas episode of the animated television series, Pinky and the Brain, which aired in December 1995.[1] Mills had directed that particular holiday episode of the series. During his career, Mills also won four Daytime Emmys and received eight Emmy nominations.[1]
Mills' additional television animated credits included Garfield's Thanksgiving in 1989, Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, , Pink Panther and Pals, and The Replacements.[1] His last credited work was for the 2011 animated television special, A Very Pink Christmas, with the Pink Panther.[1]
Mills died from colon cancer on December 7, 2012, at the age of 49.[2] [3] [4] [5] He is survived by his wife, Andrea; son, Evan; his mother, Janet Mills; and sister, Linda Hough.[1]
WIA/LA Joins Community To Help Rusty Mills