Animator, director and producer Michael John Roberts died at age 48 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at his Los Angeles home after a brief battle with glioblastoma.
Michael John Roberts died peacefully surrounded by his family, according to an obituary shared by his loved ones including his wife, actress Bree Williamson. The Canadian-born artist built a career in television animation spanning children’s series and adult comedies.
Born on Dec. 20, 1977, and raised in Toronto by his mother Wendy, a doctor, and father Teddy, a mechanic, Roberts graduated from Canada’s Sheridan College. He began his path as a junior animator before advancing to work as a storyboard artist and director.
His early television credits featured children’s programming such as Angela Anaconda and The Hoobs. Expanding beyond television series, he directed commercial spots for corporate clients including Honda, Burger King, ABC Television, and Pulse Electric Scooters, alongside music videos for musical acts such as The Sadies and The Pack AD.
“Michael saw the world a little differently,” his family wrote in the obituary. “A gifted artist with an extraordinary talent, he could find something worth exploring in what others might overlook.”
Born in Toronto on Dec. 20, 1977, Roberts studied animation at Sheridan College in Ontario before settling in Los Angeles. His early animation work in the late 1990s and early 2000s included children’s series such as Angela Anaconda and The Hoobs.
Roberts became known for his contributions to adult animated comedy, collaborating frequently with the animation studio and production company ShadowMachine. He co-created and directed all 28 episodes of Comedy Central’s sketch comedy series TripTank, which ran from 2014 to 2016. The sketch comedy program featured voice acting contributions from performers such as Bob Odenkirk, Curtis Armstrong, Larry David, Niecy Nash, Zach Galifianakis, Kumail Nanjiani, and Wayne Brady.
He animated the opening sequence for Netflix’s series BoJack Horseman, which starred Will Arnett and Aaron Paul, and directed two episodes of the show before it concluded in 2020. He also directed the pilot for the animated special Backyard Sports. As a producer, his portfolio included the 2018 YouTube Red buddy comedy series Dallas & Robo—which he created and described as “Smokey and the Bandit in space”—starring John Cena and Kat Dennings.
He worked with Mattel Television as an executive producer and creative producer on Hot Wheels Let’s Race, its Attack of the T-Rex entry, and a 2026 television special from the Hot Wheels franchise, alongside serving as an executive producer on Masters of the Universe: Tales From Eternia for Mattel and Netflix and working on Clone High, which aired 20 episodes from 2023 to 2024.
In their public remembrance, Roberts’ family said that his sudden illness did not define his life. He is survived by his wife Williamson, their son McGreggor, his parents, his sister Jane Roberts, his niece Gwen, his nephew Vaughan, and his cousin Hrothgar Cashmore.
“Although his illness came suddenly and the time that followed was heartbreakingly short, it cannot define the man he was,” his family wrote in the obituary shared by Yahoo News UK. “His life is better remembered through what he created, the conversations he inspired, the friendships he nurtured, and the love he gave so freely to those closest to him.”
Departing from traditional customs, the family asked that mourners skip floral arrangements and donations. “Please save your money and buy a cool car, that’s what Michael would have wanted,” his loved ones requested in the obituary.