Emmy-Winning Animator Leo D. Sullivan Passes Away at 82; Known for Soul Train and Transformers
Our friend Leo Sullivan has passed on.
— Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (@FloydNormanDoc) March 29, 2023
He was a legend in the animation community, using animation and filmmaking to share Black History with U.S. high school students in the 1960s.
Take a moment to celebrate Leo with this tribute.
Rest in peace, Leo. pic.twitter.com/vq8D0kIDth
On March 29, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Leo D. Sullivan, an award-winning animator, passed away on March 25 at the age of 82 due to heart failure. Sullivan is most famous for animating the iconic train sequence that served as the opening for the music show Soul Train for many years.
Sullivan was active in the entertainment industry for over five decades and worked in various positions such as a writer, producer, director, layout artist, and storyboard artist. His work includes popular shows such as Fat Albert, My Little Pony, The Incredible Hulk, Flash Gordon, Scooby-Doo, and BraveStarr. He also served as a storyboard artist for the 1986 U.S. television series Transformers.
Sullivan was born in Texas and began his career in Los Angeles in 1952, working with Bob Clampett, the animator behind Looney Tunes. He co-founded Vignette Film in the 1960s with Floyd Norman, who was the first Black animator at Disney.
In 1979 and 1991, Sullivan was honored by the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. On March 29, the official Twitter account for the documentary Floyd Norman: An Animated Life posted a video tribute to Sullivan.
