Frank Tashlin American director, screenwriter, animator Date of Birth: 19.02.1913 Country: USA

Biography of Frank Tashlin

Frank Tashlin was an American director, screenwriter, and animator. He was born in 1913 in Weehawken, New Jersey, with the real name Francis Fredrick von Taschlein. Throughout his career in the film industry, Tashlin directed 75 films, including animated ones, wrote 53 screenplays, and produced 9 films.

Early Life and Career:
Tashlin dropped out of school at the age of 13 and worked various jobs before discovering his talent for drawing. He worked as an artist, director, and gagman for different studios, often moving from one to another. He had a tumultuous relationship with Leon Schlesinger, the famous producer of Warner Bros., who hired and fired him three times due to his unruly and stubborn character. However, no one could deny Tashlin's talent as an animator, and he dedicated one and a half decades of his life to animation.

Animation Career:
During the early 1930s, Tashlin worked as an animator at Warner Bros. while also creating his own comic project called "Van Boring" under the pseudonym "Tish Tash." In 1934, he was fired from Warner Bros. and joined Ub Iwerks' studio. A year later, he worked as a screenwriter for Hal Roach's studio. In 1936, Tashlin returned to work with Schlesinger, where he created iconic characters like Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, and later Bugs Bunny for "Looney Tunes." He worked on more than 20 animated short films during the 1930s and early 1940s. In 1938, Tashlin worked with Disney, and in the early 1940s, he joined Screen Gems, a subsidiary of Columbia Pictures. During the war years, Tashlin worked on creating numerous war-related films, including instructional ones like "Private Snafu."

Transition to Live-Action Films:
In the late 1940s, Tashlin transitioned to writing screenplays for the popular comedy group, the Marx Brothers, who were known for their absurd comedy style. His influence on their film "Love Happy" (1949) was evident. Tashlin's unique sense of humor, influenced by animation, incorporated exaggerated physical comedy, secret irony, and satire in his films.

Success as a Director:
In 1948, Tashlin worked on the screenplay for the successful comedy western "The Paleface." The studio, Paramount Pictures, hired him as a screenwriter and director for its sequel, "Son of Paleface" (1952). In the mid-1950s, Tashlin achieved commercial success with films like "Artists and Models" (1955) and "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956), which capitalized on his distinctive humor and ironic view of rock and roll. These films attracted a large audience and became cult classics.

Later Career and Personal Life:
During the 1960s, Tashlin faced some criticism for losing his comedic touch. Nonetheless, he continued to direct and write comedies. One notable film from this period was the comedic crime-detective film "The Alphabet Murders" (1965), his only British film. Tashlin faced backlash for films like "The Glass Bottom Boat" (1966), but his dedicated fans were still charmed by his unique style and elusive comedic atmosphere.

Tashlin exclusively directed comedies throughout his career, and despite his wavering reputation, his individual style and nuances were unmistakable. He directed 75 films, wrote 53 screenplays, and produced 9 films. Additionally, he wrote and illustrated three books: "The Bear That Wasn't" (1946), "The Possum That Didn't" (1950), and "The World That Isn't" (1951). Tashlin passed away on May 5, 1972, at the age of 59 in Los Angeles, California.

Tashlin was married three times and had two children. His first wife was Dorothy Marguerite Hill (1936-1952), followed by Mary Costa (1953-1966), and his third wife was Jean Deinse (1967-1969). Despite openly expressing his dislike for television, Tashlin worked on the series "General Electric Theater," where future US President Ronald Reagan also appeared.