Grim Natwick

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Myron "Grim" Natwick (August 16, 1890 - October 7, 1990) was an American animator and film director, regarded as one of the greatest of all time. He was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

Best known for creating the Fleischer Studio's most popular character, Betty Boop, Natwick worked for a number of American animation studios, including the Ub Iwerks studio, Walt Disney Productions, the Walter Lantz studio, UPA, and the Richard Williams studio. At Disney, Natwick was a lead animator on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and was instrumental in bringing the titular heroine to life.

While working for the Fleischer studios in 1939, Natwick was in charge of drawing the Prince and the Princess for Gulliver's Travels. He also helped to animate Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, Mr. Magoo, Popeye, and many other 40's and 50's cartoon greats.

Grim had 5 brothers and 2 sisters. Frank, Ruby, Albert (Buff), Donald, John(rux), Gladys, and Vernon (Deeds). His Grandfather, Ole, was one of the earliest Norwegian immigrants to the United States arriving in Wisconsin in 1847, promptly marrying and having 11 children in Grand Rapids (now Wisconsin Rapids), including James W, Grim's father, and Joseph, who was the father of the famous Mildred Natwick, Grim's first cousin.

Grim had his nickname since before high school as a takeoff on his "anything but Grim" personality. He was well known even in high school for his artwork and his poetry. He later had a second nickname - perhaps selfmade, of "the Bard". Although never published, many pages of his poetry are available. All the Natwick boys were very good atheltes as Grim and his brother Buff were high school football stars.(news clippings are available). Their brother Frank Natwick was reputedly one of the first Wisconsin athletes to be invited to the Olympics in 1908. He was a high hurdler for the University of Wisconsin where he was president of his class. (documentation available).

He died in Los Angeles, California of both pneumonia and a heart attack, just after having a one-hundredth birthday party with friends such as Shamus Culhane. He is rumored to have remarked "Well, what do you want from me now - 200?!"

Links

"Barnacle Bill" Clip Natwick worked on