Mark Jones, creator of Leprechaun and animation legend, dies at 72
Mark Jones, a renowned animation writer and director, has passed away at the age of 72. He passed away on January 16, 2023, in Los Angeles after a brief stay at West Hills Hospital. Jones was best known for creating the 1992 cult horror movie Leprechaun, which spawned a long-running franchise.
Jones began his career in the 1970s, writing for classic Saturday morning cartoons. At DePatie Freleng, he worked on Mister Magoo and The Pink Panther. Later, he moved to Hanna-Barbera, where he contributed to Super Friends and multiple Scooby-Doo series as both a writer and story editor.
His work extended beyond animation into live-action television. He wrote episodes for shows like The A-Team, The Fall Guy, and Superboy. In the 1980s, he also worked on The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and Riptide. In 1992, Jones directed Leprechaun, a horror-comedy starring Warwick Davis and a young Jennifer Aniston. The film became a surprise hit, leading to seven sequels, with the latest, Leprechaun Returns, released in 2018. After Leprechaun, he directed other genre films, including Rumpelstiltskin (1995) and Triloquist (2008). His final feature as director was Scorned in 2013. Among his later animation work, Jones contributed to Disney’s DuckTales as both a writer and director. He also wrote for other animated series such as Fangface, Yogi’s Space Race, and Heathcliff.
Jones leaves behind a diverse legacy in film and television. His work ranged from children’s cartoons to horror franchises, influencing multiple generations of viewers. The Leprechaun series remains one of his most enduring contributions to pop culture.
