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‘Bob’s Burgers’ Character Designer Dave Creek Dead at 42 After Skydiving Accident

Animator had worked on the hit series since its premiere in 2011

Dave Creek, 'Bob's Burgers' animated cast

Dave Creek/Facebook; FOX

Dave Creek — the lead character designer of the hit cartoon series, Bob’s Burgers — died Thursday, January 7th, from injuries sustained after a recent skydiving accident, according to a statement from the show’s production companies 20th Television, Fox Entertainment, and Bento Box Entertainment. He was 42.

“We are heartbroken at the tragic passing of Dave Creek, an extraordinary artist who had been with Bob’s Burgers from day one,” the statement read. “He was not just an incredible talent but a beautiful person as well, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and all his colleagues at the show who loved him and are grieving today.”

Creek was a graduate of the California Institute of the Arts and worked as a freelance animator until he was tapped to join the Bob’s Burgers team. Creek had worked on the show since it first premiered in 2011, while his other credits include Central Park (also co-created by Bouchard), Brickleberry, Happiness Is a Warm Blanket, and Charlie Brown. Since 2015, he’d been working as an adjunct professor in the Calarts character animation department.

A number of members of the Bob’s Burgers creative team have shared tributes to Creek on social media. Director Simon Chong wrote on Twitter, “Today we tragically lost our Lead Character designer and friend, Dave Creek. “A wonderfully brilliant and talented man who I can guarantee designed your favorite character on Bob’s at some point. I’ll miss you, buddy x.”