Emmy-winning cartoon scriptwriter Gordon Bressack, responsible for Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Mighty Max, and Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys died Friday, August 30, 2019, according to HollywoodReporter.com “after a long health battle.” He was one of the most respected cartoon scriptwriters of the 1990s.
In the ’90s, the Brain’s catchphrase “same thing we do every night: try to take over the world” was such a well-known meme that Batgirl teased Batman that he needed to get out more when he was so busy with crimefighting, that he hadn’t seen the show and didn’t recognize the line. Like Ananimaniacs, Batman: The Animated Series was a Warner Brothers show.
Gordon J. Bressack was born in New York, May 28, 1951. He honed his craft in legitimate theater. He was married to actress Ellen Gerstell from 1982 until 2006. He is survived by his son, filmmaker James Cullen Bressack, and his daughters Samantha and Jackie, as well as a grandson, Logan.
Bressack “was nominated for five Daytime Emmys and won three that he shared with his colleagues — outstanding achievement in animation for Animaniacs in 1996; outstanding special class animated program for Pinky and the Brain in 1999; and outstanding children’s animated program for Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain in 2000. In 1998, he became the first recipient of the Writers Guild’s Animation Writers Caucus Animation Award.” He had writing credits on over thirty cartoons, from Disney’s Darkwing Duck to PBS’ Word Girl. He produced Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys and the live action horror movie My Pure Joy and directed three projects. He acted in five movies and TV shows, mostly those directed by his son.
Gordon Bressack may be gone, but Pinky and the Brain will live forever.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
