According to a Facebook post written by his family, beloved Portland animator Will Vinton has passed away at the age of 70 following a 12 year battle with Multiple Myeloma (a cancer of plasma cells). Vinton gained worldwide fame for his whimsical claymation animations of the California Raisins, and the animated Eddie Murphy sitcom for FOX, The PJs. From his family's Facebook post:

Will was the strongest man we have ever known, both in his work ethic and his mental resolve. He always said, “Do good work and everything else will follow,” and he never gave up on the things that were important to him. He saw the world as an imaginative playground full of fantasy, joy, and character. He instilled in us the greatest values of creativity, strength, and pride in ones own work. He created stories and characters filled with laughter, music, and powerful lessons that are globally beloved. He brightened any room with his signature mustache, and he continued to make jokes and laugh until the very end. His work will live on in animation history and will continue to inspire creative thinkers and makers.

A public celebration of the life of Will Vinton will take place on Sunday, October 21 at 3 pm at the No Vacancy Lounge (235 SW 1st).

Vinton sat down with the Mercury back in 2016 for a very interesting interview about his life and art, and it's a great way to remember this truly great artist and his vision. He was a true one of kind, and will absolutely be missed.