Overview
- His death on Jan. 16 at West Hills Hospital was also confirmed to Variety by friend and collaborator George Saadi.
- He would have turned 73 on Jan. 17, missing his birthday by only hours.
- Jones wrote and directed 1993’s Leprechaun, launching a long-running horror-comedy franchise that later added multiple sequels and a reboot.
- He began in Saturday-morning animation with Filmation, DePatie-Freleng and Hanna-Barbera before moving into live-action TV with producers Glen A. Larson and Stephen J. Cannell.
- Colleagues shared tributes, including Scott Baio, and a private memorial service is planned.