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Jeff Hale, the award-winning director best known for his work with Sesame Street and the controversial Lenny Bruce short Thank You Mask Man, passed away in late February. He was 92 years old. ASIFA San Francisco president Karl Cohen confirmed his death via email.

Born in Margate, England in 1923, Hale began drawing as a teenager during a long hospital stay and trained at the Royal College of Art in London. His first animation job was at W.M. Larkins studio in England, where Hale trained under German director-designer Peter Sachs. He launched his own commercial studio Biographic Films in 1955 with partners Bob Godfrey and Keith Learner.

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Hale later helped set up the San Francisco studio Mill Valley Animation. He also animated the “B-17” segment of the feature Heavy Metal (1981), which was directed by NFB colleague Gerald Potterton. Later he worked as an animation director on Muppet Babies and Transformers, as well as The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, G.I. Joe and My Little Pony. Hale continued to work, with considerable artistic freedom, on Sesame Street until 1999.

Hale retired to Talent, Oregon where he continued to paint and draw. He is survived by his daughter Margot and son Nick.