Chuck Jones was an influential director and artist whose work shaped animated films and cartoon production. He was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1912, though he grew up in Los Angeles. As a child, Jones had many opportunities to draw. He used the leftover pencils and paper that his father brought him from work. Jones began his career in animation in 1930 and was quickly promoted. In the 1940s, he created famous characters such as Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. He directed the famous cartoon film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which is still enjoyed by many people today. Jones started his own company, Chuck Jones Enterprises, in 1970. For his contribution to the field of animation, he received an Honorary Academy Award in 1996. Late in his life, he established a non-profit organization supporting art education and other creative skills.