Jon Schnepp, 'Metalocalypse' Director, Dead at 51 | Page 3 | Revolver

Jon Schnepp, 'Metalocalypse' Director, Dead at 51

Filmmaker passed away days after suffering massive stroke
Metalocalypse John Schnepp Getty, Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
photograph by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images

Jon Schnepp, best known as the director of beloved metal cartoon Metalocalypse, has passed away days after suffering a stroke, according to The Hollywood Reporter. His fiancé, Holly Payne, shared the news via Twitter that the filmmaker had died Thursday (July 19th). He was 51.

"It is with a broken heart the Schnepp family and I must announce the passing of our beloved Jon Schnepp, who died peacefully on July 19, 2018," Payne wrote. "Jon ultimately succumbed to the effects of a massive stroke."

"I feel endless grateful to have shared 16 years of laughter, love and incredible adventures together," she continued, before thanking her followers for "your love and support, and most importantly your understanding of our privacy at this time as we grieve." You can read her full statement below.

On Tuesday (July 17th) Schnepp was reported unconscious and in critical condition after being hospitalized last week. A GoFundMe campaign had been launched to help cover the filmmaker and visual artist's medical bills.

"Friends, Jon Schnepp is unconscious and in critical condition," Payne wrote in the description of the campaign. "I cannot tell you the details, but it is life-threatening. That's all I can tell you right now. I have been sharing with him how much all of you are rallying for him, and showing your incredible love and support. I've been sitting vigilantly beside him and whispering "I love you Chimpnugget" over and over again in his ear, resting my head on his huge chest."

Schnepp served as a major part of the Metalocalypse team throughout the series' six-year run from 2006-2013. In addition to directing several episodes per season, he helped design all five members of the fictional band Dethklok, who serve as the show's protagonists; additionally, he assisted with animated visuals for the band's joint tour with Mastodon in 2009 and co-authored four Dethklok comic books, complete with his own variant covers.

Outside of Metalocalypse, Schnepp has lent his voice to Adult Swim's hit comedy "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," helmed music videos for the likes of Exodus and I Set My Friends on Fire, wrote the Slayer comic book and released The Death of 'Superman Lives': What Happened?, a self-directed 2015 documentary exploring Tim Burton's canceled superhero flick Superman Lives.