The Emmy-winning producer who worked on "Rick and Morty" and The Simpsons, died two days before his 55th birthday.
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J. Michael Mendel, Emmy-winning producer who worked on "Rick and Morty" and on "The Simpsons," died on September 24, two days before his 55th birthday. The reason for his death was not disclosed. (Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
London (CNN) - J. Michael Mendel, Emmy-winning producer who worked on "Rick and Morty" and on "The Simpsons," died two days before his 55th birthday.
Adult Swim, the US television network that has broadcast Rick and Morty since its debut in 2013, issued a statement on Twitter that says: “Everyone at Adult Swim is devastated by the premature death of producer Mike Mendel of Rick and Morty "
- PHOTOS | The celebrities who have died in 2019
1 of 36 | The world of entertainment, sports and politics have fired several of his figures this year. Look at the gallery →
2 of 36 | J. Michael Mendel, Emmy-winning producer who worked on "Rick and Morty" and on "The Simpsons," died on September 24, two days before his 55th birthday. The reason for his death was not disclosed. (Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
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4 of 36 | Aron Eisenberg, who played Nog in the Star Trek spin-off "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," died at age 50, his widow reported on Saturday, September 21.
5 of 36 | Ric Ocasek, lead singer of The Cars, died on Sunday, September 15 at age 75.
6 of 36 | Eddie Money, the singer and songwriter known for the hits "Baby Hold On" and "Take Me Home Tonight," died on September 13 following complications of esophageal cancer.
7 of 36 | Camilo Sesto, a popular Spanish singer recognized for songs like "To live like this is to die of love", died at dawn on Sunday, September 8 in Madrid due to a cardiorespiratory arrest. I was 72 years old. (Credit: Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images)
8 of 36 | Mexican artist Francisco Toledo died on Thursday, September 5, at age 79.
9 of 36 | Kylie Rae Harris, a rising country singer from Texas, died on September 4 in a car accident in New Mexico.
10 of 36 | Valerie Harper, who achieved fame as Rhoda in the classic comedy "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Rhoda," died on August 30 at age 80.
11 of 36 | On August 29, Xana, daughter of Luis Enrique Martínez, former technical director of Barcelona and the Spanish National Team, died. I was 9 years old. (Credit: JOSEP LAGO / AFP / Getty Images)
12 of 36 | Jessi Combs, the race car driver who won the title of "the fastest woman on four wheels", after setting a record with a car powered by a jet, died on August 28.
13 of 36 | On August 26, Isabel Toledo, the acclaimed Cuban-American designer, best known for creating Michelle Obama's inauguration dress in 2009 died
14 of 36 | On August 23, conservative billionaire David Koch died, who became a recognized man through the political and economic empire he created with his older brother, Charles. He was 79 years old.
15 of 36 | On August 21, Mexican musician Celso Piña died in Monterrey, Mexico. (Credit: ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP / Getty Images)
16 of 36 | Actor Peter Fonda died on August 16 at age 79. (Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
17 of 36 | Actor Ben Unwin died at his home in Minyon Falls, in New South Wales, Australia, on August 14 at age 41. Unwin played an important role in the long-running novel, Home and Away, of Australian television. (Patrick Riviere / Getty Images).
18 of 36 | Saoirse Kennedy Hill, granddaughter of Robert Kennedy, died on August 1. He was 22 years old.
19 of 36 | Rutger Hauer, a Dutch actor who fought Harrison Ford in the sci-fi classic Blade Runner and excelled in the roles of evil, died on July 19 after a brief illness
20 of 36 | Rip Torn, American actor known for his roles in "Men in Black" and "The Larry Sanders Show" died on July 9 at age 88.
21 of 36 | Ross Perot, the billionaire tycoon who launched himself to the US presidency Twice, he died on July 9. In 1992, he was third after Bill Clinton and George HW Bush.
22 of 36 | Actor Cameron Boyce, who was the star of the Disney Channel, died on July 7. I was 20 years old. He died while sleeping after convulsing due to a health problem.
23 of 36 | The icon of the car industry Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler from bankruptcy in the 80s, died on June 2 at 94.
24 of 36 | Baseball player Tyler Skaggs of the Los Angeles Angels died July 1 at age 27. He was found lifeless in a hotel room in a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth.
25 of 36 | Gloria Vanderbilt, a famous designer, artist and socialite, died on June 17. It was the mother of Anderson Cooper. He was 95 years old.
26 of 36 | Niki Lauda, who recovered from an almost fatal accident and was one of the world's greatest motorists, died on May 27 at 70. The Austrian was a three-time Formula One champion.
27 of 36 | IM Pei, a finished architect who designed the Louvre museum pyramid, died on May 16 at the age of 102.
28 of 36 | Doris Day, movie box office star and singer, died at age 97 on May 13.
29 of 36 | Peggy Lipton, an award-winning actress who appeared in "Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks," died of cancer on May 11 at age 72.
30 of 36 | Peter Mayhew, the actor who first played Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies, died on April 30 at 74.
31 of 36 | John Singleton, the director of "Boyz n the Hood" and "2 Fast 2 Furious," died on April 29 at age 51.
32 of 36 | Rapper Nipsey Hussle died on March 31 in a shooting near a clothing store he owned in Los Angeles. He was 33 years old. He was nominated for the best rap album at the Grammy this year.
33 of 36 | Actor Luke Perry, famous for his role in "Beverly Hills 90210," died on March 4 at age 52.
34 of 36 | Acclaimed British actor Albert Finney, five times an Oscar nominee, died on February 7. He was 82 years old.
35 of 36 | Fran Robinson, the first black baseball player in Major League Baseball, died on February 7 at age 83.
36 of 36 | Tony Mendez, the CIA agent whose character Ben Affleck played in "Argo" (2012), died on January 19. The film was based on the operation to get six Americans out of Iran in 1979. “He guided and supported a generation of artists, writers and creators and his absence will be felt by the entire community. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. ”
The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
Justin Roiland, the co-creator of Rick and Morty, paid tribute to Mendel: ”My friend, partner and line producer Mike Mendel passed away. I'm devastated My heart is sad for your family. I don't know what I'm going to do without you by my side, Mike. I am destroyed".
Mendel worked on Fox's Tracey Ullman Show, in which The Simpsons began life as a recurring segment, before becoming an independent series.
During his time on the show he helped create 207 episodes of The Simpsons, winning Emmys in 1995 and 1997. Mendel produced 22 episodes of "Rick and Morty," earning a fourth Emmy for his work last year.
He is survived by his wife Juel Bestrop, winner of an Emmy as best director of cast and two children.
