June Foray

June Foray--A Remembrance by Craig Kausen

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I truly feel as though we lost part of the family yesterday as June Foray, at the age of 99, passed away.Of all of the people that Chuck worked with throughout his career, June is by far the person that I became closest to.  I remember her perfectly at the premiere of "The Phantom Tollbooth" in Hollywood when I was 7 years old and my memories of her and with her only grew from there.

In an interview a couple of years ago, I was asked about June Foray and what came to mind that day was that she always said "yes" to whatever was requested.  Can you come to screening? Can you take a call from a fan? Can you do an interview?  Every time she said yes.  She was the epitome of a living, giving star in Hollywood.  Others will recap her accomplishments and certainly there are so many, but my memories of June are all about her sincerity, her passion for everyone she worked with and her genuine loving spirit she shared with everyone.

She and Chuck were dearest of friends and they had a professional love and respect for each other seldom equaled.

 

The last time I visited June along with my mother, we went to dinner with her, her sister, and brother-in-law at their favorite restaurant in the Valley.  We spent time at her house and then all went to dinner at 4:30 in the afternoon.  The stories, the banter, the laughter never stopped and it was a wonderful way for me to have a final personal memory of my time with her.  

 

I am sure, just like I still do with Chuck, I will pick up the phone to call her and regardless that she is not physically there, she, along with Chuck, will continue to live on through the wonderful memories (and a lifetime of work) she left behind.

 

My deepest condolences to all that loved her..

Special Guests @ Chuck 102Gether!

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Chuck 102Gether at the Alex Theatre, Sunday, September 21 from 3 to 5 PM!

 

A Film Festival celebrating the collaborative creativity of the Golden Age of Looney Tunes!

 

Need another reason to attend besides being able to see these great cartoons on the big screen as they're meant to be shown? Here's a partial list of guest panelists:

 

GEORGE DAUGHERTY, creator of "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony" will be the afternoon's Master of Ceremonies. 

ROB MINKOFF--Director of "The Lion King" and "Mr. Peabody & Sherman"

TOM SITO--Key figure in the Disney Renaissance and one of the 100 most influential people in animation

LEITH ADAMS--Longtime Executive Director of the Warner Bros. Archive

JEFF DEGRANDIS--Now at Dreamworks, formerly a supervising producer at Nickelodeon

ERIC GOLDBERG--Animator of the Genie in "Aladdin" and director of "Fantasia 2000" and so much more!

 

Other special guests may include: JUNE FORAY, AURIL THOMPSON, and MARTHA SIGALL (their health permitting.)

 

 

Tickets from $10 available at AlexTheatre.org!

Actress June Foray to Receive Lifetime Achievement Creative Arts Emmy

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Actress of a thousand voices, the inimitable June Foray will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Creative Arts Emmy at a ceremony September 15. On the 21st of September, Foray will celebrate her birthday at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood during the “Chuck 101″ festivities celebrating the 101st birthday of animation director and producer, Chuck Jones. To learn more and to buy your tickets for the event at the Egyptian Theater, click here.

Chuck Jones Centennial Celebration of Animation at the Newport Beach Film Festival 2012

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The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, a Newport Beach Film Festival Event Sponsor, will be hosting a morning of Chuck Jones animated cartoons at Triangle Square, Costa Mesa (at the intersection of Newport Blvd., 19th St., and the terminus of the 55 freeway) on Saturday, April 28th at 11 AM. Among the many favorite short cartoons to be shown will be one of his masterpieces, "One Froggy Evening."Following the showing at 1:30 PM will be a panel discussion and seminar on animation with celebrated voice actress, June Foray (Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatale, and Witch Hazel); Emmy Award-winning producer Linda Jones Clough; "Dora the Explorer" producer and director, Jeff DeGrandis; animation director, character designer ("Hop"), and writer, Chris Bailey and photographer Marian Jones, Chuck Jones's widow. The discussion will be moderated by Craig Kausen, chairman of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity.

A ticket for both events is $5.00 for adults. For more information and to purchase tickets, please contact the Newport Beach Film Festival by clicking on their name in this sentence.