Al Brodax, ‘Yellow Submarine’ Producer, 90

Albert P. Brodax of Ridgefield, formerly of Westport and Weston, producer and co-writer of the iconic animated Beatles film, “Yellow Submarine,” died Nov. 24 in Danbury. He was 90.



Al Brodax at a 2010 Westport Arts Center appearance where “Yellow Submarine” was screened. (CLlCK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Al Brodax at a 2010 Westport Arts Center appearance where “Yellow Submarine” was screened. (CLlCK TO ENLARGE)

In 2010 and 2012, he appeared at the Westport Arts Center to discuss his Beatles film and the 2004 book he wrote about the experience, “Up Periscope Yellow: The Making of the Beatles Yellow Submarine.”

Born in the Bronx on Feb. 14, 1926, he enlisted in the Army at age 17, was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and awarded the Purple Heart and a Combat Medical Badge.

He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1948 and began his career at the William Morris Agency as a program developer, working on “Your Show of Shows” and co-producing the Broadway play “Winesburg, Ohio.”

In 1960, he created and headed the television/motion picture division of King Features Syndicate. He wrote and produced more than 500 episodes of “Popeye,” “Krazy Kat,” “Barney Google” and “The Beatles” cartoon series.

In 1968, he was producer and co-writer of “Yellow Submarine,” winning more than 30 awards including the New York Film Critics Circle Award in 1969.

He went on to become the animation supervisor for ABC, producing the shows “Make a Wish” and “Animals, Animals, Animals.” In later years, he was a consultant for Marvel Comics.

He resided in Westport from 1953 to 1980 before moving to Weston where the family remained until moving to Ridgefield in September 2015.

He is survived by his wife Joan, his children Daniel Brodax of Danbury, Douglas Brodax of Beachwood, Ohio and Jessica Harris of Fairfield, and his grandchildren Max, Molly, Julia, Carly, Luke and Sam, and by his sister, Myrna Kurtz, of Sayville, N.Y.

There will be a private ceremony and gathering for family, followed in the weeks ahead by a military service in Arlington, Va., commemorating his service and Purple Heart.

See New York Times obituary here.