Born on September 21, 1912 in Spokane, Washington, Chuck Jones grew up in Hollywood where he observed the talents of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton and worked occasionally as a child extra in Mack Sennett comedies. After graduating from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (now California Institute of the Arts) Jones drew pencil portraits for a dollar a piece on Olvera Street. Then, in 1932, he got his first job in the fledgling animation industry as a cel washer for former Disney animator, Ub Iwerks. In 1936 Jones was hired by Friz Freleng as an animator for the Leon Schlesinger Studio.
He directed his first film, in 1937. He was a key part of Warner Bros. animation studio from the 1940s until the studio closed in 1962 in what all critics consider the Golden Age of Animation. He then moved to MGM Studios and established his own production company, Chuck Jones Enterprises, thrilling new generations of fans.